Pind. Juno Fest concludes with a night of performances from some of Canada’s best By Jay Schreiber fter a weekend of partying with music A= all across Canada, Sunday night’s Juno Awards were a night filled with celebrity celebrations. Most of The usual stars of Canada’s music scene were out in full form to partake in a night of awards that annually sets the standards in Canadian music. At the red carpet show, celebrities passed through crowds of excited fans, some stopping to say hello and some just passing through to get to their TV interview. Most of the “screaming girl” favourites such as Hedley and Simple Plan made their way into the rows and rows of fans to sign autographs and keep face. Artists such as Bryan Adams and Elvis Costello charged through the red carpet walk as if it was time to be admired and wave profusely. As Nickelback arrived, the crowd became ecstatic as Chad Kroeger and his gang waltzed on through to be greeted as if they were from this city. Occasionally there would be the odd “Go Back To Alberta” being chanted amongst the hordes of people, but for the most part they just brushed it off. Inside the Garage, a.k.a. GM Place, a mammoth stage filled with pyro kicked off the awards as Nickelback played their “hit” “Something in your mouth.” Really, Chad? A little inappropriate dontcha think? Later performances included a very soft acoustic song by Bryan Adams, accompanied only by a violin in probably the easiest set change of the night. The Sam Roberts Band had the best overall SUNDAYS $51.29 CORONA - $$2:29 CUERVO ed UL eee performance of the night with their catchy and upbeat track “Kids Don’t Know How To Rock and Roll” that got the entire stadium dancing and intensified the energy. Sam Roberts ended up with two Junos at the end of the night and proved that he and his outfit deserved them. Former producer Bob Rock honored local boys Loverboy as they are the most recent inductee to Canada’s rock and roll hall of fame. Loverboy have had a career as one of the hardest rocking new wave bands, resulting in The Police looking like a bunch of pansies. Russell Peters played host for the second year in a row and did a very good job at working the crowd into his comedic routines. Russell kept his cool and fed off the crowd poking fun at the nominees of the night and at his inability to tell any of the heavily tattooed rockers apart from each other. Dallas Green and his gang City and Colour performed tragically with a raised hip factor. Dallas won a Juno that night and his outfit was very suiting of his style, resembling both a punk rocker and Grade 11 math teacher at the same time. At the end of the night, Nickelback (excuse me while I throw up) took home the award for best album, making it their third of the night. Acceptance speeches were kept pretty tame this year, with Chad Kroeger not knowing what to say except about how amazing it is that they’re winning and that the press was going to have a field day. There ya go, boys, happy? The night concluded with Great Big Sea playing a version of Led Zeppelin’s “Gallows Pole” that shook the entire house. With the 2010 Olympics just around the corner, the real star of the Junos was Vancouver itself. The host city was appreciated by Loverboy, called a “home ground” by Elvis Costello and Diana Krall and even hometown hero Bryan Adams gave Vancouver some love. Of the attendees in Canada’s music community, many of the important stars to the Juno’s in years past neglected to show. Both Avril Lavinie and Nelly Furtado were nowhere to be seen, and both of these Canadian stars have been active in hosting and performing in the past. Most famous Canadian music stars neglected to surface such as Neil Young, Randy Bachman, or Leonard Cohen, perhaps to save them a trip across the Rockies. Either way, there you have it, the conclusive end to an annual festival that is nationally recognized. Vancouver’s moving up in the world, but I don’t know if the same goes for Canadian music. ys Bud By Ashley Whillans Last week | ate crickets. Yes, you heard me right, crickets! They were crunchy, blue and according to the waiter, reminiscent of “sunflower seeds?” Crickets, while surprisingly delectable, were not the only point of interest at this Indian fusion-style restaurant. Located on 1480 West 11", Vij’s is a well-renowned, award-winning restaurant in Vancouver, and it is known for its unique atmosphere. It is no wonder that the richest and hippest frequent this intimate spot—it is the perfect place to wine and dine in style and everything from the food to the scenery make Vij’s an experience, as opposed to “just a meal.” Thanks to the generosity of a friend, I myself had - the good fortune of dining here—and believe me, for the experience alone, Vij’s is worth every penny. From the first moment you walk in, Vij’s distances itself _from so many of Vancouver’s so-called “hotspots” such as Cactus Club or Joey’s—Vij’s has class, style and originality. Without reservation policy, and a typical wait time of up to two hours, just waiting to be seated is an experience of its own! While in queue, Vij’s presents its customers with two options; either they can wait in the trendy bar, located at the back of the restaurant and enjoy tight quarters with expensive strangers (and free appies), or they can wander down Broadway and Granville and explore the neighbourhood’s shops and restaurants. While the idea of waiting this long for a meal may seem outrageous, in fact it only adds to the idea of Vij’s as a destination, not a stopping point, and brings a sense of adventure to the somewhat boring Vancouver dining experience. The service is exceptional and the atmosphere is elegant casual, with dim lighting and friendly tables. It appears that everyone at Vij’s is looking to unwind, take their time and enjoy their evening, which makes for a highly enjoyable dining experience. And not to mention, the phenomenal food (if this restaurant can make crickets appetizing, you know they are good at what they do)! The food, as I mentioned before, is Indian fusion and while the menu is quite extensive, I’m sure everything is delicious. The lamb kabobs and vegetable curries come highly recommended, and when sinking your teeth into them, you’ll know why. If you are looking for somewhere original for an upcoming special occasion, I cannot say enough about Vij’s. The wait staff, atmosphere and original cuisine make Vij’s the perfect destination for a classy evening out, or even a few drinks, appies or even a cricket or two before a show or night out on the town. The only word of warning is that you must be prepared to wait, and don’t forget to remind yourself “patience is a virtue” and “good things come to those who wait.” Fork This ryt I give this restaurant... 4 out of 4 forks.