Events
Saskatoon’s own, Maxwell Miller, found love of electronic music at the early age of thirteen. Ever since watching Electric Circus on Much Music, he knew he wanted to be a DJ, and quickly purchased a turntable with all the money his young self could afford. Miller soon learnt the basics of making music from his cousin, quickly mastering scratching and beat matching tracks in only a matter of days. The inspiring young DJ proved himself for the first time in a local record store after mixing two tracks together on the spot, stunning the owners with his natural musical talent.
His first gig was on Saskatoon’s once electronic radio show Groove Juice, where he DJ’d regularly under the name Max Power. Soon after, he found himself emerged in Saskatoon’s rave scene at night, and skipping classes by day to focus on his music. Miller landed his first big break by winning a contest held by the rapper Xzibit to mix his track Hurt Locker; after beating out more than 1000 applicants, he was flown to LA to hang out with Xzibit, and soon later landed meetings in Toronto with Universal.
In 2011, Miller along with Montreal-based DJ Benny M, formed hard electro dance duo No Big Deal. With the pairs combined talents and drive to create great music, they gained a following quickly, Djing regularly at Toronto’s hottest clubs and scoring a spot on pop star Guinevere’s American tour. Their newly released EP digital release Night Time Hustle has proved to be an instant success, with critics raving they are the “group to look out for in 2012.” With songs like “Losing Light” proving to be a dance-floor thumper, No Big Deal’s sound is sure enough to lure you in, and keep you there.
Although Miller no longer lives in Saskatoon, he holds a place in his heart for this city. “Summers in Saskatoon are sick, there is always something going on musically whether it be the Jazz Festival, or on Broadway. There seems to be a constant upbeat and inspiring vibe energizing the city in the summer, I love that.”
For now, the duo are back to the studio, grinding out new beats and tracks that will surely win over music lovers everywhere. With a dancefloor oriented blend of house, funk, and electro- it’s obvious No Big Deal is just getting started in what looks to be a very promising career.
Go to http://www.facebook.com/nobigdealdjs to download their free EP and hear for yourself what makes these guys so unique.
Born and raised Saskatoonian Taylor Pfeifer originally began Provadenic to raise money for different projects that needed financial stability around Saskatoon. Today the company has grown to be a platform for people to grow from, whether it be in music, fashion, design, or networking. The heart of Provadenic lies in the community of people surrounding it, who are passionate about achieving excellence in the things they love.
Provadenic’s clothing line consists of t-shirts, hoodies, and accessories which are all designed by Taylor. When asked what inspires the designing process, Taylor says it is people, and the energy and relationships he has with them. As a graphic designer, he believes he is able to stimulate culture through his clothing, separating him from other designers out there. Currently, Provadenic is working on three new designs of shirts to be released by mid-February, along with new products such as sunglasses and banana boards.
When asked to describe Saskatoon’s fashion scene, Taylor responded with one word:
Potential.
“I feel like Saskatoon has ripped off Edmonton for so long because it had the closest American Apparel, so we just assumed that all of Edmonton dressed good. I feel now that American Apparel isn’t as hot as it used to be, and with the push of fashion by certain organizations like SFDF, Saskatoon has huge potential to set trends just as it has in so many other artistic areas. That being said, Saskatoon does have some very well dressed people. I love those people. I want to hug them, and tell them thank you.”
Provadenic is currently sold at Hardpressed custom printing store here in Saskatoon, and on their website provadenic.com. All finances go towards people who are less fortunate, needing that extra hand to provide them with an opportunity for growth. With a message of love and hope for the world underlining each product, Provadenic is surely a company worth supporting.
Check out some of their products that are not only filled with originality and style, but further contribute to the beautiful people of Saskatoon that we all love.
Tired of the over whelming and overpriced fashion at the mall?
Look no further.
Plato’s Closet, a second hand unisex store located on 115th St E, not only has the latest fashion trends kept in the upmost condition, it further has the most reasonable prices that could beat out Wal-Mart any day.
Although there are numerous places in Saskatoon to find used clothing, what’s different about Plato’s is they only accept clothes that one can actually wear. Although Value Village does have a huge variety, I find I have to donate an entire afternoon to endless searching among thousands of items that not even my Grandma could be seen wearing.
Plato’s only accepts items that are considered trendy, and could be seen within the retail stores within the past couple of years. The store sells its clothing up to 70% off retail prices, which I consider an absolute steal! Not only have I found amazing pieces of clothing there, I have further found shoes, necklaces, and other accessories that I wear on a day- to- day basis.
PS: Don’t forget to bring in some of your items you no longer wear for your next visit. Depending on what kind of condition your pieces are in, and how the buyer feels of its potential, you could be not only walking away with a whole new wardrobe, but cash in your pocket as well!
Plato Styles and Prices:
Jacket: Buffalo $35.00
Long Sleeve Shirt: Abercrombie $ Fitch $18.00
Jeans: Buffalo $20.00
Boots: Kascanada $10.00
Shirt: American Eagle $10.00
Necklace: Vintage $3.00
Ring Vintage Necklace: $4.00
Vintage Necklace: $3.00
To learn more visit www.platoscloset.com
I have been fortunate enough in my 22 years of living to attend a deadmau5 show twice. The first time I saw the Canadian DJ was last New Year’s in Edmonton, and the second was last night here in Saskatoon. I have loved his music since I heard his collaboration with Kaskade back in 2008 entitled “move for me,” a catchy girly electro song, and have since followed his music religiously.
The show began at 8pm, beginning with Chris Lake, a Scottish house DJ who I hear was pretty good. I did not end up making it to the venue until after 10pm, as I was too preoccupied with my rum and cokes, and knew Deadmau5 was not going to come on until well after midnight. The second opener was Porter Robinson, who I thought killed the show. His upbeat progressive tunes had everyone in prairieland jumping, whether it be in the mosh pit or at the bar. If you have never heard of him, and are into electronic music I suggest checking out “say my name,” a heavy progressive feel good tune. Robinson seemed to have the people going his entire show, and by the time Deadmau5 came on half the crowd already looked warn out from dancing so hard.
When I saw Deadmau5 in Edmonton he had his signature mouse head on for most of his set, and DJ’d in his well-known cube, complete with strobe lights and mass amounts of visual back rounds. His show in Saskatoon, however, was more down to earth. He rarely wore the mouse head, letting the crowd connect with him more as a DJ, and there were no spectacular visuals or lighting to go with his show. His sound however was vibrant, as he had the crowd beating to his pulse of heavy beats and killer drops his entire set.
Despite being puked on, soaking wet from everyone’s sweat, and being harassed by what looked to be 12 year old boy in the mosh pit, I thought the show was fantastic. I firmly believe there is nothing better than dancing well into morning to music that you love, and sharing that love and energy with other people around you. If you are unfamiliar with Deadmau5 try “ghost’s n stuff,” “strobe,” and my personal favourite “raise your weapon,” all tunes bound to get you off your feet and swept into the trance of progressive house music.
Check out the energy caught on tape of last night’s show.
It is that time of year.
Finals.
The time where one drinks excess coffee, sleeps under five hours per night, and dreams of graphs, philosophers, and chemistry equations.
Is it weird that all I crave is grapefruit juice and dub step?
Is it embarrassing that I currently have not one, not two, but three calculators in my bag?
Should I be concerned that I just fell down Place Riel stairs because I was thinking of double derivatives instead of where my feet were?
The answer to these questions I believe is a yes, however, all I really care about right now is doing the best that I can on my exams. I find it interesting how we students put so much time and effort into our schoolwork, and yet certain professors seem to not give a damn how much work went into something.
For example, a couple of weeks ago I wrote an in class exam consisting of two essays that I could prepare for ahead of time. I prepared for numerous hours, and came up with a solid outline that was bound to give me a good mark. After writing, I felt confident, and felt empowered at the energy I had put into my preparations. When I received my grade back, however, it was drastically lower than I imagined. I went home that night and re read my essays, and concluded that my mark did not reflect my work. I decided to prepare an argument as to why my midterm was unjustified, and booked a meeting with my professor the next day.
I went into his office feeling calm and collected. I knew I was right, and was not going to settle for my mark. He said he would have to re-read my essays to help me understand why my mark was so low.After a long and awkward time, he began to create numerous excuses which did not make sense what so ever as to why I lost so many marks. I did not give in and shot back at him reasons as to why I thought my papers were exactly what he was looking for. We argued back and forth for a solid hour...
And that's when I cracked him.
After what seemed like a staring contest he broke. He told me he must have been "tired" when he had read my papers. He told me he had had a" bad day" when he marked it, and perhaps did not read my papers thoroughly. You think us students are not tired? Around this time half of us have not slept in days!
The moral of this blog is if you are handed back something you put sweat and tears into, whether it be an essay, final, or something you believe in...fight for it! Just because someone says it's not good doesn't mean it's not. I managed to raise my mark by 15% because of it, and feel pretty good my hard work was justified in the end.
Best of luck to everyone who's cramming these next couple of weeks! We are all in this together.
PS: Need a study break? Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_qh3urEOK8
If only school were more like this....
It happened.
The snow has fallen and, whether you want to admit it or not, it’s here to stay.
I have come to the conclusion that the winter season poses some of the best fashion and some of the worst. Winter is a time when one can play with layers, colours, and accessories more than any other season. So why do so many people act as though life is over as we know it and show up to school in pyjamas?
Here is my list of do’s and don’ts for this Saskatchewan Winter 2011-2012 season.
**********************10 Do's and Don'ts of Saskatchewan Winter Fashion****************************
1.DO play with accessories. Even on those lazy days, a good hat or scarf can do wonders for an outfit. If you are a girl, headbands automatically liven up an ensemble. Scarves on either a guy or girl can not only keep you warm, but complete an outfit. I suggest incorporating brighter colours into your accessories, especially since the majority of winter clothing is neutral.
2.DON’T think snow means sweatpants. This is a no no. I’m sorry -- I don’t care if you were up all night working on an essay or just came from the gym…is it really that hard to throw on some jeans?
3.DO find a good pair of boots. Both men and women alike can make themselves look ten times better with a good pair of boots. Not only are they stylish, they can also save your feet from falling off on those -30 days. A trend that is definitely circulating right now in the boot department for women are “riding boots”. I recommend a sleek black pair you can wear with any outfit. Aldo is currently selling great quality pairs, which last for longer than one season.
As for boys, military inspired boots have hit Canada and are flying off the shelves. So throw away those old snow boots your mom gave you and go out and buy a pair. Once again, Aldo has some great quality stock. If you're looking for something less expensive however (although maybe not as good of quality), Value Village has pairs dating back to the 80s.
4. DONT over layer! Layering can be a dangerous thing… and although I said earlier to use layers, I didn't mean you should load on enough to make you look 30 times heavier than you actually are. Find a good cardigan and a good scarf, but don’t buy ten and wear them all at the same time.
5. DO keep her your spring/summer collection in your closet. Just because the weather has changed doesn't mean you have to hide your dresses, skirts, shorts, and t-shirts. There is nothing wrong with finding a good pair of tights and throwing them under a dress with a good sweater. Boys- those tanks you wore all summer can look awesome under a blazer.
6. DON’T over wear fur. There's nothing worse than people over wearing fur. Sure, a fur accessory (kept to a minimum) can be doable. However, the last thing one wants to see is an interpretation of Big Foot coming towards them.
7. DO incorporate some sparkle into your wardrobe for the Christmas season. This is the only time of year I find sparkles to be acceptable, and for you boys who are daring, a little bling on a t-shirt or necklace can work in the spirit of the holidays.
8. DON’T wear puffy pastel looking coats! I understand some of us want to stand out...but c'mon…it hurts my eyes. Not only do you look ridiculous, you also probably just caused a traffic accident somewhere, so dress more socially responsible.
9. DO experiment with hats. Although some people may think they don’t look good in any hat, that’s a lie. Anyone can pull off the right hat, and in doing so make their outfit stand out among the rest. Girls- try a 1950s style hat. The best place in town is “Hats and That” on Broadway. They practically last forever, they're warm, and they look great. Guys- a good beanie is the best with washed out jeans and a neutral coloured sweater. Le Chateau has great ones in many different colors.
10. DON’T try to pretend it’s not winter. The worst fashion mistake one can make is going outside with sandals and shorts in the dead of winter. You look ridiculous, and you probably just lost one of your toes to frostbite. Conform to Saskatchewan weather and quit trying to screw with Mother Nature. In this province, you can't.
Here are a few of my favourite looks of this coming Winter: Photos credited to Kelsey Mcfarther, Le Chateau, and Street Fashion Blog 20.
It's Halloween weekend where the young and the old alike are deciding what to wear and where to go. For some, Halloween is the perfect opportunity to wear something as slutty as possible and not get in trouble for it, while for others it is their chance to eat as much candy, or drink as much alcohol as they can until they puke.
For the younger crowd, there is no decision making in what to do on October 31st. Trick or treating started in the 1800’s, where children and the poor would go around saying prayers for the dead in return for cakes. Today, however, it is a perfect excuse for kids to eat as much as they can and not get in trouble by their parents. I lived in the Broadway area for most of my life, and I found it odd as I got older, lesser kids would come to my front step. I decided to find out why… and from my extensive research involving a survey of five kids, I concluded that the reason these kids no longer trick or treat in my area is because they think they can get “bigger chocolate bars” where there are “bigger homes,” such as on Sask Crescent and Stonebridge. I decided this conclusion was fair, however, I still believe the Broadway area has the best decorated homes in town.
For us older kids, we have many more options of what to do on Halloween such as pub crawls, house parties, and other special events. I for one think house parties are definitely the best option, and attended one last night. (You know it was a good one when you are dancing with Jesus and the Pope to Katy Perry at the end of the night). If you are not fortunate enough to be invited to a home willing to get trashed for the sake of Halloween, I recommend checking out 911 Turbo at Scratch, or Monster Mash at Prairieland where I hear things are going to get wild. (See our Docket for more details).
As for a Halloween Costume, I recommend NOT going as a hot dog eating champion as I made the mistake of going as last year. In my Halloween excitement, I drenched myself with ketchup and mustard not realizing how awful I would smell throughout the night. I also managed to make the fatal error of thinking if I washed out a ketchup bottle good enough, I could drink out of it. Not the case. My night consisted of drinking ketchup tasting vodka…yum. I do recommend, however, going as Chad Kroeger from Nickelback as my dad successfully pulled off last year.
Happy Halloween Everyone!
I have been an employee for several years... and what can I say? It has been an experience. Recently I gave up the gig to focus more on my studies, and quite truthfully I was over the whole barista thing.
I find it crazy how in the last couple of years Starbucks has managed to take over Saskatoon, with the company currently running thirteen outlets around this city. I embarrassingly have managed to work at eight of these locations at some time or other, and have been asked numerous times in public if I indeed do work at Starbucks.
The answer was yes,
I did.
Thanks for pointing that out in very unnecessary places such as in the middle of a class lecture, a skrillex concert, and my personal favourite... a man pulling up beside me while driving.
The place where most recognized me was at the College Drive location, where I worked for the past three years off and on. Many customers think it is peaches working at Starbucks, while others look at us in amazement and wonder how we "ever memorize all those drinks." I have to be honest with you-
We don't.
Half of the time we are making shit up.
Over my career as a barista I have realized that there are two kinds of people who work at Starbucks. The first types are the people who take the job way, way too seriously. These are the baristas who have meltdowns when there are "not exactly three marshmallow dream bars" in the pastry case, or have a midlife crisis because "someone did four swirls instead of three" on a caramel macchiato.
I for one didn't really care much about the details. I am the other type...the type that is there to have a good time, meet cool people, and have a laugh at every opportunity. What I enjoyed most about my job as a barista was the connection I had with the customers. One of these people was a man who could only see out of one eye, was deaf, and seemed to work endless hours as a dishwasher at a restaurant next to us. This guy never failed to have a smile on his face, give us a thumbs up when we remembered his drink, and graciously thank us with a high five as he walked out the door. These are the types of people who inspire me and make me realize I really should get my head out of my ass and live life how it should be lived- positively, no matter the circumstances.
There are other customers, however, who do not inspire me in ways I would like to be inspired. Take for example this girl who comes into College Drive on a daily basis. She sits in the same spot, drinks the same drinks, and wears pretty much the same clothes every day. The only difference one can see is that every time she is with a different guy.
Now girls... I am all about female empowerment. Guys can have a lot of girls at once and society claims it is ok, right? I get it. However... this girl has not two, not three, not four, but FIVE guys whom she brings to Starbucks, each at a different time on a regular basis. What makes it worse is she never fails to have a major make out session with each of them either at the till as I am attempting to shove her change, or at the bar where everyone in the store can see them. Nothing better than making out under those red College Drive Starbucks lights that look as though we belong in the red light district of Amsterdam, right?
Here is a tip- don't be that girl.
And here is another tip for all of you Starbucks regulars:
If there is a name and a number on the bottom of your cup when it is handed to you... chances are it is not the barista who handed it off to you that wrote it. A friend of mine who worked at Starbucks with me did this to me on a regular basis, and I received many phone calls from random older men asking if my name was Laura and if I worked at Starbucks. I would reply yes...and things would get real awkward.
I can honestly say, however, that I will miss those 5am mornings, green aprons, and being able to bullshit about coffee to customers to make myself sound smarter. To those of you who work, or have worked at Starbucks, I give you kudos. It takes a strong willed person to be able to call out those ridiculously long personalized drinks that sound as if you are doing a monologue. I am sure we have all had those customers who would like "exactly three pieces of ice" in the bottom of their latte, or "light foam so that it looks like clouds on a rainy day".
(Yes...I was asked that once)
So I say farewell to Starbucks for now. And who knows, I may be back sooner than I expect. For now, however, you can find me in those ridiculous Tim Hortons line ups at Place Riel, ordering a "grande black coffee" by mistake. The day I manage to properly say "regular" will be the day I realize the barista inside of me is no more.