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Welcome to GungHaggisFatChoy.com
Home to my passions for my inter-cultural adventures, Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner event. Historic Joy Kogawa House Society, Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team, Find what you are looking for by 1) scroll the categories links (below), 2) use the search function ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Search
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Saturday, October 17
by
Todd
on Sat 17 Oct 2009 10:32 PM PDT
Over 50 artists were featured at the Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Art Exhibition at Canada Place in Vancouver BC, Oct 17/18. It's a two day free exhibition with sales to the public. On Friday evening, a live auction of highlighted artworks was held with proceeds going towards the Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Youth Legacy Fund. more »
Friday, July 31
by
Todd
on Fri 31 Jul 2009 02:51 PM PDT
I like attending the Powell St. Festival. Somewhere in my clothes drawer I have a t-shirt from the 10th Anniversary festival back in 1986.![]() This year's Powell Street Festival will take place at Woodland Park - moving Eastward between Clark Drive and Commercial Drive, North of Venables St. - but South of Hastings St. - photo of 2007 festival by Todd Wong Many of my friends have Japanese ancestry such as Jeff Chiba Stearns, John Endo Greenaway, Julie Tamiko Manning, or Joy Kogawa.... I grew up folding origami cranes, and relating to Japanese culture in a Pan-Asian-Canadian kind of way...I have even performed my accordion at the Powell St. Festival main stage. One year I played with my friend Sean Gunn as part of the "Number One Son" band... or maybe it was under the name of "Yellow Lackey Dogs." My friend Walter Quan is always there to sell his unique "sushi candles" and once when he was wearing a Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team cotton shirt, he was asked if he was "Todd Wong." Walter Quan and his sushi candles booth at the 2007 Powell Street Festival - photo Todd Wong![]() Check out the Powell Street Festival on Saturday and Sunday.www.powellstreetfestival.comHere's a great article in the Vancouver Sun by Kevin Griffin: Powell Street Festival: Metro Vancouver's Japanese Canadians celebrate a resilient culturePowell Street Festival: Metro Vancouver's Japanese Canadians ...Julia Aoki, volunteer coordinator for the Powell Street Festival. Photograph by: Glenn Baglo, Vancouver Sun. VANCOUVER — Unlike other festivals that strive ... Tuesday, July 7
by
Todd
on Tue 07 Jul 2009 11:56 PM PDT
Michael was a revolutionary. He changed the way music was performed, and he challenged the way we looked at the world...
Sinatra had done the same... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Like Bing Crosby with the advent of the microphone, Sinatra and long play concept albums, Elvis and rock and roll, Dylan and folk music, Michael Jackson was there for music videos and pushed the boundaries. Like Sinatra and Elvis, he pushed the boundaries of "race music" while helping to create greater racial acceptance. Sinatra helped open the doors for black artists, including Sammy Davis Jr. as a member of the "Rat pack" and speaking for racial equality. Jackson did the same in his own way, not only performing with white artists such as Paul McCartney and Britney Spears, but also in his personal life - dating and befriending many people such as Brooke Shields, Elizabeth Taylor and marrying Lisa Marie Presley, as examples of greater dissolution of borders between black and white. This past week, I have been reading the book "Why Sinatra Matters" written by Pete Hamill soon after the death of Sinatra. With all the media attention around MJ's death, I have listened to the music and watched the videos, and recalled my own memories and experiences of how Michael Jackson's music has been part of my life. ![]() By reading "Why Sinatra Matters" it gives a greater context and template to examine how Michael Jackson's life, music and dance have impacted on both American and global popular culture. Both were affected by their ethnic roots where their communities were treated as 2nd class: Sinatra grew up in the time between the World Wars, when Italians were immigrants to America and worked as labourers to survive. Jackson grew up during the 60's at the time of the American civil rights movement and the rise of African-American studies and culture. Both men forged their ways to greater acceptance of the American dream, breaking through barriers and claiming their places amongst the perceived White Anglo Saxon Protestants mainstream. Both Sinatra and Jackson, had also been constant targets in the press and tabloids. While Sinatra's supposed mob connections kept him out of purchasing a Las Vegas resort, Jackson was also the constant target for his court cases of child abuse and his plastic surgery. But both men also were great philanthropists and addressed the greater good. Jackson's songs "We Are The World," "The Man in the Mirror" and "Earth Song" are part of his legacy, as surely as Sinatra's work with Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Carlos Antonio Jobim. ![]() 1984 Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson at the recording session for Sinatra's last solo studio album L.A. is My Lady (not including the duets albums), produced by Quincy Jones who also produced the Jackson albums "Off the Wall," and "Thriller." From the intro: "When Frank Sinatra died on the evening of May 14, 1988, the news made the front pages all around the world. Many ran extra editions and followed with special supplements... "It was mandatory to chronicle his wins and losses, hisfour marriages, his battles, verbal and physical, with reporters and photographers. His romances required many inches of type. There were accounts of his fierce temper, his brutalities, his drunken cruelties. Some described him as a thug or a monster, whose behavior was redeemed only by his talent... Sinatra , however, did matter in other ways. He wasn't simply an entertainer from a specific time and place in American life who lived on as a kind of musty artifact. Through a combination of artistic originality, great passion, and immense will, he transcended several eras and indirectly helped change the way all of us lived. He was formed by an America that is long gone: the country of the European immigrants and the virulent America-for-Ameriancs nativism that was directed at them... They were extraordinary times, and in his own way, driven by his own confusions, neroses, angers, and ambitions, Frank Sinatra helped push the country forward. "Now Sinatra is gone, taking with him all his anger, cruelty, generosity, and personal style. The music remains. In times to come, that music will continue to matter, whatever happens to our evolving popular culture. The world of my grandchildren will not listen to Sinatra in the way four generations of Americans have listened to him. But high art always survives. Long after his death, Charlie Parker still palys his verion of the urban blues. Billie Holiday still whispers her angish. Mozart still erupts in joy. Every day, in cities and towns all over the planet, someone discovers them for the first time and finds in their art that mysterious quality that makes the listener more human. In their work all great artsists help trancscend the solitude of individuals; they relieve the ache of loneliness; they supply a partial response to the urging of writer E/ M. Forster: "Only connect." In their ultimate triumph over the banality of death, such artists continue to matter. So will Sinatra." pp. 3-9 "Why Sinatra Matters" by Pete Hamill. I have just finished watching the Michael Jackson Tribute, and am remembering all the times I saw Michael, and was touched by his music. Here's a youtube clip of the television cartoon show: I remember:
Saturday, June 13
by
Todd
on Sat 13 Jun 2009 11:25 PM PDT
![]() Vancouver Storytelling at Main St. Car Free Days, with Todd Wong I have been asked by Vancouver Storytellers, to give a storytelling performance Location: located on the West Side at 18th.; on a grassy island set back from Main Street. We are beside a tiny mall with a Pizza Hut. It is Car Free Days starts at 12 noon at the following locations. Commercial Drive (between Venables and 1st Ave.) Denman St. (between Davie and Robson) Main St. (between 12th and 25th) Kitsilano (various neighborhood block parties) http://www.carfreevancouver.org/ I will tell stories of early Chinese & Scottish pioneers in BC, I will look down Main Street towards Chinatown and tell stories about my great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan, who came to Canada in 1896 as a lay preacher for the Chinese Methodist Church.... I will tell stories about how James Douglas was born in Guyana to a Scottish father and a Creole mother, and came to BC to become the first governor of BC. I will look south to the Fraser River, and recount how Simon Fraser was born in the United States, came to Canada with his Loyalist mother, and travelled through Western Canada, to explore this Westernmost land and named it New Caledonia. I will the origins of Gung Haggis Fat Choy:
Saturday, May 16
by
Todd
on Sat 16 May 2009 02:55 PM PDT
Hapa Izakaya in Kitslano is one of my favorite restaurants.
It was a 3 restaurant Kitsilano weekend, last week for my birthday. On Friday we went to Sunset Grill, 2204 York Ave. On Saturday we watched the hockey game and had Slum Dog Pizza at Hell's Kitchen 2041 4th Ave. West. But for the "Big Day" we suggested some names... and eagrely decided to go to Hapa Izakaya 1416 Yew St. Everytime we go there, the first bite of each dish is either "Wow" or "yummmmmm." A few months ago, we took a friend from Ottawa to Hapa Izakaya in Kitsilano for his birthday. Good choice! It's a cozy atmosphere with lots of wood, as opposed to the more high-tech "clubby" feel of the Robson St. location. Modeled after Japanese bistros in Tokyo, owner Jason Ault returned from Japan to open up Hapa Izakaya with a fusion twist. As sushi was supposedly invented as finger food to eat while playing games, Izakaya bistros appeared as cheap places to eat and drink after work - but Hapa Izakaya takes it to another level. It creates a tapas style menu, with a cultural fusion twist, and sets in a glossy upscale setting. The Robson Street location is always buzzing, while the Kitsilano location is more laid back - but the food is great in both locations. We started with King Crab roll. "Yum" - Deb's favorite! Smoked Tuna Macaroni with Ume/Seiso sauce. "Wow!" Dynamite roll with spicy mango sauce "Yow!" Monday, March 16
by
Todd
on Mon 16 Mar 2009 11:54 PM PDT
It's not everyday, you meet an important Canadian parliamentary leader in a pub on St. Patrick's Day... - but Jack Layton was in Vancouver for Celticfest and the St. Patrick's Day Parade Todd Wong, Jack Layton, Allan McMordie, Trish McMordie - photo T.Wong/T.LamWe had spent 3 hours in the cold preparing and walking in the parade
with the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Pipe & Drums, and Gung Haggis Fat
Choy dragon boat team, carrying a parade dragon, lion head masks and
dragon boat paddles. We were cold, and in need of warm food and
carbohydrate replenishment. Jack Layton, federal NDP leader had been in the parade too. He often
comes in August for Vancouver's Pride Parade. Jack said he was also in Vancouver to attend an event for Don Davies, MP for Vancouver Kensington. I've known Don for a few years, when he first introduced himself to me at one of Meena Wong's dim sum luncheons (coincidence: Meena had been an assistant for Jack Layton's wife Olivia Chow in Toronto). Jack's wife is Chinese-Canadian MP, Olivia Chow, and they are also friends of Canadian author Joy Kogawa. Wow... Jack and Olivia are a real inter-cultural couple on a national scale! Very Gung Haggis! I had dim sum with Olivia in 2007, at one of Meena Wong's dim sum socials with Chinese head tax activists, see: Dim Sum with Olivia Chow in Vancouver I asked Jack, if he had Scottish ancestry, which he affirmed. It was on Robbie
Burns Day, January 25th 2003, he became
federal leader of the NDP (New Democratic
Party"). If Robbie Burns was the ploughman's poet, then Jack Layton must be the workers' parliamentarian. Layton's views of social democracy, probably best represent Robert Burns's similar views - more than the other federal leaders. Burns was such a progressive thinker of the Scottish enlightenment, that many of his views were not published until after his death - they would have been considered "that radical". Remember that during Burns' time, happening around him was the American Revolution, and the French Revolution, as Modern Democracy emerged. But 250 years later they fit very much into a social democratic world. Layton's great-granduncle, William Steeves, was a Father of Confederation. Layton's own grandfather Gilbert Layton was a cabinet minister in the Quebec provincial government, and his father Robert Layton was a Member of Parliament and cabinet minister. Just as Jack Layton was preparing to leave the pub, our bagpipers started playing some songs. Jack took out his cell phone and started videoing them, then recorded a Happy St. Patrick's Day message. Maybe this will appear on his web page. I used my camera to record the action. Check it this video: Allan McMordie, Patricia
McMordie, David Murray -
bagpipers
Filmed by Jack Layton,
Saturday, March 7
by
Todd
on Sat 07 Mar 2009 06:52 PM PST
Hapa Izakaya is a place to take friends and make them say: "Ahhh.... Yummmm...." Duck with vegetables and green sprouts... very tasty! - photo T. Wong Hapa Izakaya Kitsilano has only been open for about a year. Owner Justin was there to greet us. The original Hapa Izakaya is on Robson St. near Jervis. And just like the original, almost every dish begs you to take a picture! And it is ohhhhh.... so tasty. Peter and Emily were very impressed. They said, "Ahhhh...." and "Mmmmm" and "That is SO good!" a lot. Spicy Sockeye Salmon Sashimi, Owner Justin and his wife are "Hapa." Half Japanese-Cnaadian and Hafl Caucasian-Canadian. They met while both were working in Tokyo. Hapa Izakaya brings the "Izakaya"/ Japanese Pub food to Vancouver, but pushes it up a level with its fusion cuisine. The Robson St. restaurant is very cool with its dark interior and club music. The Kitsilano restaurant is more laid back. Unagi (eel) cone. Sunday, February 1
by
Todd
on Sun 01 Feb 2009 11:58 PM PST
What is typical Vancouver music for the Cultural Olympiad? I think it is the cultural fusion music of Andre Thibault and Qiu Xia He''s Silk Road Music!
![]() For Chinese New Year, Qiu Xia He and Andre Thibault organized a truly multicultural show, featuring many ethnic performers and musical styles in Vancouver. But more importantly was the intercultural representation. Caucasian Willy Miles is singing in Mandarin Chinese. Non-African ethnic dancers are performing traditional African dance with Jackie Essombe. The stilt walkers are every ethnicity including mixes. And of course the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team features Scottish and Chinese ancestry + everything in-between and everything beyond - photo Deb Martin Still Moon Arts Stilt walkers meet the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon dancers. The stilt walkers are children and young teens led by Carman Rosen, who has also performed celtic music at the 2005 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner. - photo Deb Martin. Kathy Gibler, executive director of Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens, Ellen Woodsworth - Vancouver City Councilor, prepare to help make opening speeches with Dr. Jan Walls - MC for the show and performer of Chinese clapper tales - photo Deb Martin Bonnie Soon leads Uzume Taiko through some very exciting rhythmic drumming perfomances. Uzume Taiko often performs with bagpipers. Bonnie and I talked, and I hope we can feature them at a future Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner one year - photo Todd Wong ![]() Chinese Lion stilt dancers! In one of the crazy moments of beautiful serendipity, I offered my Lion Dance costume to the Sill Moon Arts stilt walkers, for a photo prop... and the next thing we knew, another stilt walker offered to be the tail, and presto! The very first Chinese Lion stilt walkers!!! The kids had so much fun, it is always a joy to see them. - photo Todd Wong Dancers from the Jessica Jone dance school come on stage for a wonderful fan dance. I love the colour and movement. - photo Todd Wong Jacky Essombe and The Makalas perform traditional African Dance. The weather was so cold you could see Jacky's hot breath steam into the cold air. But they brought so much high energy, you just felt warmer while seeing them work so hard - photo Todd Wong ![]() Here we pose with Qiu Xia He, organizer of this great event. Left to right: Todd Wong, Devon Cooke, Qiu Xia, Dave Samis, hidden are Brooke and Deb - photo Marion Here's our dedicated group of Dragon Boat paddler dragon dancers! Todd Wong, Deb Martin, Brooke Samis, Dave Samis and Devon Cooke. - photo Marion. Tuesday, January 27
by
Todd
on Tue 27 Jan 2009 06:22 PM PST
Gung Haggis Fat Choy is always a wonderful event for photographs. Special thanks to our incredible photographers Patrick Tam, Lydia Nagai and VFK.
If you like their photos, please contact them and purchase them. We have asked them to put "water marks" on their photos, so that we will advertise and promote them.
They help us with our event, because they believe in the community work and social consciousness raising that we do. + PICTURES more »
Monday, January 19
by
Todd
on Mon 19 Jan 2009 11:56 PM PST
What Scottish clan is CBC TV News anchor Gloria Macarenko from?
Celebrity Media co-hosts are confirmed! Gloria Macarenko, CBC TV News anchor "Vancouver at Six" Catherine Barr, Metro News / Radio 650 AM
Gloria Macarenko from CBC TV's "Vancouver at Six" Gloria first got to learn about deep-fried haggis won ton when I brought some down to her newscast, when CBC was promoting the 2004 Gung Haggis Fat Choy television performance special. I'm really happy that CBC TV news anchor Gloria Macarenko is coming to co-host the 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner with myself and Catherine Barr. It turns out that Gloria and Catherine also know each other and are really looking forward to having some fun at the Gung Haggis dinner. I looked in a tartan clan wesbite and found MacA'chailles, MacAchounich, MacAdam, MacAdie, MacAindra, MacAldonich, MacAlduie, MacAlex, MacAlister, MacAllen, MacAndeoir, MacAndrew, MacAngus, MacAra, MacAree, MacAskill, MacAslan, MacAuselan, and MacAy... but no MacArenko! What clan is Catherine Barr from? I found there are clans named Barrie and Barron, and of course there is MacNeil of Barra, or the Barra MacNeils. I know that Catherine's family has a family tartan... In fact, it was her father Robert Barr that introduced me to the Burns Club of Vancouver about 5 years ago. Last year Cat managed to get 10 kilted men on stage all singing a "Toast to the Lassies" - what will she lead us into this year? Special musical performers: ![]() ![]() Silk Road Music Ensemble: Qiu Xia He and Andre Thibault have become good friends since I first met them on the set of the 2004 CBC television performance special "Gung Haggis Fat Choy." I really appreciated what they were doing musically, and they really appreciated what I was doing. They have performed at the Gung Haggis dinner in 2004, 2007. Qiu Xia plays virtuoso pipa (Chinese lute) and Andre can play fiery flamenco music - but they also play scottish and french-canadian reels and jigs too! For their 2009 Gung Haggis performance they are adding a Scottish-Canadian percussionist, Liam MacDonald. Gung Haggis Fat Choy Pipe & Drums Last year, Bob Wilkins approached me with the idea of creating a Gung Haggis Fat Choy pipe band... with lion dancers and chinese drums. Okay... I was hooked. Our paths have crossed in our mutual appreciation of BC Scottish and Chinese pioneer histories, and Bob has a vision of a multicultural pipe band that could also incorporate BC's Chinese cultural history and traditions. Okay... we have the pipers but are still searching for Chinese lion dancers. Heather Pawsey opera soprano Heather sings in Mandarin, Cree, Italian, French, German, Spanish and probably Russian and Scottish too! Heather has graced stages with Vancouver Opera, Vancouver Symphony and many other ensemble and chamber groups throughout BC. She always lights up the stage when she comes to Gung Haggis dinners, such as 2004 and 2007. Heather grew up wearing kilts on the Saskatchewan prairies, and she really loves the Gung Haggis concept. In 2008 she was paired with DJ Timothy Wisdom to create something new and exciting. She called me up and said "Todd - I've got something for you and Gung Haggis!" Timothy Wisdom DJ I only met Timothy last week, when he came to the Gung Haggis Fat Choy rehearsal dinner on January 11th. He brought with him a dvd of his performance with Heather Pawsey. What was on it? Opera with hip hop beats... Scottish and Chinese musical notes and references... And hopefully Timothy will spin some tunes after the Gung Haggis dinner, so we can party until midnight for a countdown to Chinese New Year! "Best Party Rockin DJ in Vancouver…a sonic genius" - Vancouver Folk Festival "so much exhilaration in his sets...slaying audiences" - E13 Records |
2010 GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY Dinner
January 31, 2010 Contact Firehall Arts Centre: phone 604.689.0926 2010 prices SINGLE TICKET $60 + $5 service charge = $65 Student price is $50 + $4.50 = $54.50 (must show student high school or university ID) Children's price is $40 + $4.00 = $44 (ages 13 and under). Reservations for tables of 10 $600 + lower service charge WHAT: GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY: Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner - 12th Annversary Dinner, celebrating 251st Anniversary of Robert Burns' birth + incoming Chinese New Year of the Tiger. WHEN: 6PM January 31 2010, SUNDAY doors open 5pm, Dinner 6pm WHERE: Floata Chinese Restaurant, #400-180 Keefer St. Media Inquiries Call Gung Haggis Productions / Todd Wong direct: 778-846-7090 email: gunghaggis at yahoo dot ca CULTURE: Our Performers create something special for us every year with traditional and contemporary performances featuring everything in-between and beyond! FOOD: A quirky fusion/mix/buffet of Scottish Canadian and Chinese Canadian culture 10 course Chinese banguet dinner 2004 - The debut of Gung Haggis Won-Ton 2005 - Haggis lettuce wrap! 2007 - Haggis dim sum appetizer buffet 2008 - Scotch tastings! + debut of Gung Haggis parade dragon! 2009 - debut of Gung Haggis Fat Choy Pipes & Drums band + auction of 37 year old special edition Famous Grouse whisky + scotch tastings of Famous Grouse, The Macallan and Highland Park. Watch for more surprises in 2010! Description of 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner co-hosted with CBC News anchor Gloria Macarenko and Media colunist Catherine Barr featuring performers: bagpiper Joe McDonald and Mad Celts, Silk Road Music's Qiu Xia He and Andre Thibault, Opera Soprano Heather Pawsey and DJ Timothy Wisdom, BC Book Prize winner Vancouver poet Rita Wong + poet traslator Tommy Tao, Playwright Adrienne Wong and a scene from "Mixie and The Half-Breeds" Description of 2008 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner co-hosted with Media colunist Catherine Barr featuring performers: , celtic band Blackthorn, bagpiper Joe McDonald and Brave Waves, Ji-Rong Huang on erhu, Film maker Ann-Marie Fleming, Vancouver poet laureate George McWhirter, Playwright Grace Chin and a scene from "The Quickie" Description of 2007 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner co-hosted with CBC Radio's Priya Ramu, featuring performers: Silk Road Music, Heather Pawsey, Brave Waves, Leora Cashe, No Luck Club, Dr. Ian Mason (Burns Club of Vancouver) Lensey Namioka - Author "Half and Half" Margaret Gallagher, "Twisting Fortunes" (sneak preview of play) Description of 2006 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner with co-host with CityTV's Prem Gill featuring performers: Rick Scott & Harry Wong, The Shirleys, Joe McDonald & Brave Waves, Sean Gunn, author Joy Kogawa, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team for lots of summer fun, fitness and friendship. We are a social team full of cultural vigor, that likes to eat. We have been featured on television, local, national and international. We have a unique and internationally famous fundraiser dinner event. We practice starting March Sunday 1:30 pm -3:30 pm Tuesday 6pm-7:45pm We meet at Dragon Zone clubhouse - just south of Science World in Creekside Park above the Aquabus and dragon boat docks. Our coach Todd Wong has 15+ years of experience including novice, recreational and competitive levels, and both community and corporate teams. Our 2008 season took us to races in Burnaby, Vancouver, Vernon, Vancouver Taiwanese race, UBC, Ft. Langley. It was our strongest team ever and we are proud of our race performances. For more information: Click on Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team information phone: 778-846-7090 e-mail: gunghaggis at yahoo dot ca ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sponsors
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Walter Quan and his sushi candles booth at the 2007 Powell Street Festival - photo Todd Wong







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Todd Wong, Jack Layton, Allan McMordie, Trish McMordie - photo T.Wong/T.Lam
























Picture from Program.

