Xoco ~ artisan chocolates in Squamish

Jeem y Sherry were back in Squamish for a brief interlude over the weekend, and the weather was incredible. Sixteen degrees and sunny for much of the day,  and the patio at Howe Sound Brewery was nice indeed.




We walked around town and found, not necessarily for the first time, an amazing little chocolate shop on the main drag called Xoco. Open only a few weeks short of one year, this little mother and son operation features fresh chocolates, and assorted pastries based on chocolate, that are all quite stunning.

Locally owned and operated, with local ingredients where possible, and all handcrafted on-site, Xoco is well worth the visit when in Squamish.

Xoco is another example of why people are talking about Squamish in a new light. No longer a town content to be just a stop along the way to Whistler, or yet another bedroom community for Vancouver, something is happening here, and it's fun to watch its r/evolution. Time will tell if citizens can prevail over developers, but they'll have some great chocolate along the way.

Photos by Jeem. Copyright 2016 by Jim Murray.

Women's Memorial March on February 14th

The first women’s memorial march was held in 1991 in response to the murder of a Coast Salish woman on Powell Street in Vancouver. Her name is not spoken today out of respect for the wishes of her family. Out of that sense of hopelessness and anger came an annual march on Valentine's Day to express compassion, community, and caring for all women in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, unceded Coast Salish Territories.

All these years later, the Women's Memorial March continues to honour the lives of missing and murdered women and all women's lives lost in the Downtown Eastside, and in cities across Canada.

My first encounter with the March took place on Valentine's Day 2010 in Victoria. It was a quiet, powerful experience.



Indigenous women disproportionately continue to go missing or be murdered in our city. Political will to address these tragedies, or the systemic nature of gendered violence, poverty or racism.






In Vancouver the March starts at 12 noon on Sunday, February 14. People of all genders are encouraged to congregate at the corner of Hastings and Main at the Carnegie Community Centre. The March will proceed through the Downtown Eastside, stopping to commemorate at places where women were last seen or found. Speeches by community leaders and activists will take place at the Courthouse.

Photography is discouraged during the March. No political or union flags, banners, leaflets or posters are allowed at this event.

Human Library at the PuSh Festival

Human Library is an experiential work that began in Denmark 15 years ago when a group of young people created a project to promote dialogue, following a hate crime against a friend. Today there are Human Libraries in 65 countries and thousands of people around the world have engaged in conversation with strangers.






Two years ago The Murray Chronicles visited The Human Library at Vancouver's annual PuSh Festival when Sherry was a "book." The Vancouver event has grown significantly since. Located in the Vancouver Public Library's main branch downtown it's attracting more and more "borrowers" every year.










Under the thoughtful direction of Dave Deveau and Zee Zee Theatre, Human Library in Vancouver is gaining attention within the community, and the PuSh Festival itself, as a way to connect in ways beyond the capability of our digital devices. These are real conversations with real people. It can be uncomfortable for some, and rewarding for all.








Up the escalator to the third level, then to your left ,is where you can check out your "books." And it's at this point you begin to realise that it's all about having a conversation with a stranger, without any filters. It's twenty minutes of getting to learn something about someone you might otherwise never meet, and to breaking down the assumptions that limit your view of the world. It's not so much about the "book" as it is about you: the reader.






There are over twenty titles this year, including The Upside of Depression, Life in a Pinball Machine, Single Mom of 3 Boys, Pill-popping, Prostitute, Psychotic…Politician,  Letting go of Letting go, and Gay Teen at the Height of AIDS. And Sherry is back too.








Human Library runs on weekends through Sunday, February 7th. Like public libraries everywhere, it's free and highly worthwhile. No late fees.

Photos by Jeem. Copyright 2016 by Jim Murray.

Misty for me... in Gastown

After our chicken and waffle feast at Tuc, we went to a musical event at the Firehall Theatre. Something about Leonard Cohen...

By the time we left the theatre, it was dark and a gentle mist covered the downtown.





























It's beautiful in this city, at night, in winter, when a fog-like mist chills you to your very bones.

Photos by Jeem. Copyright 2016 by Jim Murray.

Tuc Craft Kitchen in Gastown

What is a tuc I wonder?

In Gastown, apparently it's a fabulous restaurant called Tuc Craft Kitchen.









We had been here before one early afternoon during a recent rainstorm before Hogmanay. Then, the place was almost packed. This time we called for a reservation before arriving and that was a good thinking on G. G. Bylnn's part because Tuc certainly isn't flying under the radar anymore, if ever it was. On our most recent visit the estimated wait time without a reservation, was well over one hour.





Everything about Tuc is good. Service is warmly attentive and professional. Our server offered thoughtful suggestions and informed answers to our questions, which mainly involved the impressive cocktail list. All the drinks appear to be well prepared and nicely presented, and priced reasonably; something that isn't always the case in this city.

Jeem tried a Jaral Caesar, which features mescal, jalapeño and cilantro. It was so good he had to have another to confirm matters. Sherry and Susan had Sunrise Mimosas, which was evidently delicious (Summerhill organic Cipes, Grand Marnier and cherry herring) and not as sweet as might have been expected.


















We were here for brunch, before a show at the Firehall Theatre a few blocks away. The menu is inventive yet familiar too. What many people have discovered about Tuc, and one of the reasons we're here on this day, is the Crispy Chicken Waffles. Generous portions of local, free-run chicken breast done in a thoroughly crispy manner, reminiscent of that bucket of chicken we sometimes enjoyed as children. Tuc's version uses less salt and better chicken obviously, and it shows in the taste. The waffles are savoury and the toppings are sublime.

Jeem, remembering his family roots, had a dish named Okonomiyaki, which is a variation on the traditional Japanese pancake, with shredded pork, cabbage, barbecue sauce, kewpie mayonnaise and bonito flakes. It was pleasing in every way, but not in the same way as the fried chicken.







So. To recap. Tuc is fantastic. Make a reservation. The chicken can sell out, so ... don't dawdle.

We're coming back for dinner one night. It's the kind of place that offers great service, some wonderful mixed drinks, wines at reasonable prices and authentic food. Taken all together, those ingredients make Tuc Craft Kitchen a rare find indeed: locally owned and inspired, unpretentious and good. It's a place to come with friends and family because that's the way Tuc feels, and isn't that what dining is all about?

 

The coffee is damn fine too.
Photos by Jeem. Copyright 2016 by Jim Murray.