Latest news with #LordStanley
Vancouver Sun
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Letters to The Sun: American visitors inspired by Vancouver
Near the end of June, my wife and I travelled with college friends to Vancouver. As Americans, we appreciated your hospitality and your will to preserve precious land. From your stunning airport terminal to our hike in Lynn Canyon, we enjoyed every footstep of our exploration. In turn, we worked to be considerate guests at every place we visited. During our visit, we saw the diversity of your city and how your community embraced a pretty June Saturday along the beaches on English Bay. We noted similar challenges that we experience in our communities along the east coast of America — the high cost of housing, the struggles of the homeless, maintaining infrastructure, and the snarls of traffic. No community is immune from those challenges. A daily roundup of Opinion pieces from the Sun and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Informed Opinion will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. I will never forget my early morning run along the Stanley Park seawall. Captured forever are four herons gathered on a point, the scattered purple pieces of mussel shells on a soundless beach, magnificent trees, and the quiet exchange of 'good mornings' with fellow runners and walkers. As much as I will cherish that run, my old heart will value even more a discovery we made in Stanley Park on our last morning in Vancouver. I know nothing about the qualities of Governor-General Lord Stanley, but I loved the vision of his words on his statue in the park: 'To the use and enjoyment of people of all colours, creeds, and customs for all time.' That is a powerful and visionary statement for 1889. Sadly, in the United States, that foresight continues to erode from our thinking. In the time I have remaining in this cantankerous old world, I plan to share Lord Stanley's wisdom as a reminder to everyone in my community that as Americans, we have an obligation to support 'people of all colours, creeds, and customs for all time.' Thanks, Vancouver, for the reminder. Bill Pike, Richmond, Virginia Re. B.C. builders welcome NDP changes to development cost charges as housing starts falter Re. Letter: Developers should be subject to same market risks as everyone else For decades, real estate seemed a sure thing. Put some money down upfront, wait a while, and flip it. Real estate investments only appeared to be safe. They are passive investments, where investors follow a buy-and-hold (or flip) strategy. Real estate investments are highly leveraged and relatively illiquid investments. When an investor buys real property, the leverage is greater than one buying public company shares on the margin. Unlike selling shares through a brokerage account, one can't sell real estate by clicking a button. The reason for high investment returns for real estate investments in a rising market is debt leverage. Like a teeter-totter, debt magnifies returns in both directions. If the market rises, investors earn hundreds of thousands in profits. If the market declines, they lose hundreds of thousands. Real estate developers are businesses like any other, although highly profitable ones until recently. Walk along Granville or Broadway some time and count how many retailers and restaurants shut down their operations every month. Some businesses succeed, many fail. Empty store fronts soon fill with new ventures who try to beat the odds. Market downturns are both inevitable and desirable. Downturns eliminate ventures that don't meet consumer needs, that are poorly managed, or that are overly leveraged. Efficient, well-managed businesses survive downturns, and boom during the following economic upturns. New ventures replace the ones that go bankrupt. A constant churn in industry competitors, which Joseph Schumpeter called 'creative destruction,' is essential to a competitive marketplace. John Shepherd, Richmond
Eater
08-07-2025
- Business
- Eater
A Major Bay Area Baker Is Finally Returning to Oakland
is the associate editor for the Northern California and Pacific Northwest region writing about restaurant and bar trends, coffee and cafes, and pop-ups. After a dynamic five years, Reem Assil — the titanic baker and restaurateur behind the eponymous Reem's — is headed back to the Town. She'll open a Reem's outpost at 85 Webster Street in fall 2025, the former 3,000-square-foot home to Timeless Coffee in Jack London Square. The San Francisco Chronicle reports the space will serve a small menu and will be used primarily for production, with windows allowing customers to see bread bakers. The return to Oakland is a long time coming for Assil. The restaurateur's Ferry Building outpost closed in December 2024 after a two-year run. Yes, her Mission Street space is wildly popular, hosting a Sunday Supper series with other local chefs. But when Assil launched in Oakland's Fruitvale neighborhood in 2017, a fervor erupted for her flatbreads and Arab cooking. 'Jack London Square has always been this, do we take the risk? But I've always believed when you have a good anchor, that place gets really enlivened,' she told the paper. Michelin star-earning restaurateurs head east Rupert and Carrie Blease, the owners of the decade-old (but now closed) Lord Stanley, are teaming up with Tommy Halvorson. He's the former owner of Serpentine's at 2495 Third Street. Now, the San Francisco Chronicle reports all three will take over that location with tasting menu restaurant Wolfsbane. Popular Lord Stanley dishes including onion petals and sherry vinegar may appear on the 10-course menus, but the much more intimate space will highlight seasonal rotations first and foremost. Sunset vegan cafe flipping into breezy taco spot The vacant corner location on Judah Street, last occupied by Beach'n and before that Beachside, is primed for a new tenant. Ruby's will open in late summer 2025 from the husband-and-wife team owners of Mission Rock Resort. The San Francisco Standard reports wraps, salads, tacos, and loads of 'California beach fare' will be menu mainstays. Mission cafe's cutest pet contest heats up Only-in-San Francisco phenom Fayes, the hybrid video store-coffee shop on 18th Street, is in the midst of its annual Cutest Pet Contest. This year's the 27th annual affair, and per an Instagram post, there's still time to submit. Send a 5-by-7-inch photo of your cat or dog to fayescutest@ with name and age by Wednesday, July 23. Eater SF All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
San Francisco Chronicle
08-07-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Their last S.F. restaurant earned a Michelin star. Here's what they're opening next
A trio of lauded San Francisco restaurateurs has assembled to bring an elegant new tasting menu restaurant to Dogpatch. Opening this fall, Wolfsbane will occupy the former home of brunch destination Serpentine at 2495 Third St. It's the latest from Carrie and Rupert Blease, former owners of Russian Hill bistro Lord Stanley. Joining the couple is Tommy Halvorson, previously Serpentine's operator, and head of catering company the Fire Society. The group has a long-shared history as friends and in the kitchen. Carrie Blease has known Halvorson since she cooked at his popup Phoenix Supper Club, which launched in 2009. Similarly, Rupert Blaise previously worked at Halvorson's Foxtail Catering company. Wolfsbane marks a comeback of sorts for all involved. The Bleases closed Lord Stanley in May, after 10 years at 2065 Polk St. in San Francisco's Russian Hill. The restaurant became a destination for its modern bistro tasting menus and chef residencies, and once held a Michelin star. Serpentine was the last restaurant Halvorson operated before the pandemic. It opened in 2007, and Halvorson took over in 2017, before closing it in 2020. He now focuses on his catering operation, which includes food and beverage brands, that services over 300 events a year, he said. When Wolfsbane opens, it will be among the newest arrivals to Dogpatch, which has drawn several restaurants post pandemic. Most recently, Breadbelly, among the Chronicle's Top 100 restaurants, and Standard Deviant Brewing have opened inside the massive Pier 70 development. The trio will soon begin developing the first 10-course tasting menu, which will tap into late summer and early fall produce. Expect an always-changing lineup that begins with small bites which can include onion petals and sherry vinegar, a version of a popular Lord Stanley dish, or crispy cod skins with whipped brandade, followed by fresh local shellfish served on ice. Diners may see more new takes on old Lord Stanley favorites, such as buttermilk cabbage with sea urchin. They will also be bringing back their hit sourdough baking program for bites like a 'pain au jus,' toasted loaf slices with a flavorful sauce made with red wine. 'It was our favorite thing to eat after service at Lord Stanley, so we thought about adding it,' Carrie Blaise said. Rupert Blaise is most excited to serve a heritage hen baked inside of a sourdough loaf. Diners will be able to see how the bread is cut open table-side to reveal the cooked bird, which is then carved and served with truffle and consommé. Nailing the dish, a riff on historical recipes, was a labor intensive process informed by his experience studying cooking temperature for meats. 'It's a dish that has its place in history, but can be revisited in a more beautiful, modern kind of way,' Rupert Blease said. 'The hen is beautifully steamed so it is very moist and it gets a bit of a nutty flavor from the bread.' Other poultry dishes may include squab cooked in a wood-fire oven or on a grill. There are plans to offer a few of the tasting menu dishes a la carte from the bar, which has room for six seats. Natural wines from California and beyond will be a prominent feature on the beverage menu, along with seasonal non-alcoholic drinks. There will be about six cocktails, too, and Halvorson, a Kentucky native, will stock a variety of whiskies and bourbons. 'I went home a few times to bring back bottles you'll only find here,' Halvorson said. Seth Boor, the local architect who worked with the Blaises to bring Lord Stanley to life, designed the interiors for Wolfsbane. There is a private dining room which can host special appearances or menus in the spirit of Lord Stanley's Turntable, a series of rotating guest chef residencies. Plentiful light will allow diners to appreciate the space, the food — and, of course, the company for the night. 'It will be a lot more intimate than Lord Stanley ever was,' Rupert Blaise said.
Edmonton Journal
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
These are the players Edmonton Oilers General Manager Stan Bowman should keep...and kick
Article content It is decision time. While the Edmonton players and their fans spend time dealing with the emotions of consecutive losses in The Stanley Cup Finals, the Oilers General Manager's job is instead to forge ahead immediately. Article content Stan Bowman has already signaled that his job is to keep this club in the running for Lord Stanley's mug and has suggested some areas where he will focus. It will mean retaining many players, but replacing others. So, who will he kick and who will he be compelled to keep? Article content Yes, there are automatics where you may go 'Duh, Leavins'! And yes, some of these guys have time left on their contracts, no move clauses, and other such things. But as I like to say: There is more than one way to skin a cat. You may be one of those who think the whole thing should be blown up. That is your prerogative. But I contend that a team that gets to the final in back-to-back years does not require major surgery. Parameters: We will rate any player still in the Edmonton organization from this regular season and/or playoffs that played a single game or more. That is thirty-four players, both skaters and goalies. The list is in order of regular season games played. Ready? Set? Go! Kick or Keep EVAN BOUCHARD. Keep. If you are one of the people who think Bouchard will not be worth the money he is sure to get in an extension or that he should be shipped out of town, all I can say is…give your head a shake. Article content CONNOR BROWN. Kick. Brown played his best hockey in five years. But he can get more elsewhere for what the Oilers should spend on a fourth liner. I would not hold that against him. BRETT KULAK. Keep. Hometown guy has contributed three consecutive seasons of excellent post-season performances plus his best regular season ever. VASILY PODKOLZIN. Keep. Value contract. Hard-to-play-against, younger player with a defensive conscience and good wheels. COREY PERRY. Keep. Yes, this club needs an infusion of youth. But it is clear the forty-year-old Perry is an important part of this team's DNA and is coming off an impressive year. Needs to be a value contract, though. There is substantial risk. ADAM HENRIQUE. Keep. Some will not agree, and I hear you, but Henrique proved his worth in the playoffs with stout defensive play and reliability in the faceoff circle. He is a good 3C on any competitive team. Article content MATTIAN JANMARK. Kick. I respect the players' contributions, but a twenty-something should have that roster spot. RYAN NUGENT-HOPKINS. Keep. As the cap rises his contract will remain a relative bargain. If his fine post-season performance is any indication, this fan favorite still has lots left in the tank. DARNELL NURSE. Keep. I can hear the detractors howling now. But look, even if I agreed with you who exactly is taking his contract? And at what transaction cost? TY EMBERSON. Keep. Young, physical, affordable, right shot D-man. Signed. ZACH HYMAN. Keep. As Joni Mitchell famously wrote, 'you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.' JEFF SKINNER. Kick. Perhaps if the entire year had gone the way the back half did. But it did not. LEON DRAISAITL. Keep. Franchise player. Signed long-term. CONNOR MCDAVID. Keep. Franchise player. If you can, sign him long-term, too. Article content VIKTOR ARVIDSSON. Kick. Not without attributes but it has clearly not worked out for either side. TROY STECHER. Keep. Signed for another year on an impossibly cheap contract for his worth. MATTIAS EKHOLM. Keep. Until I see a 100% healthy Ekholm struggle like he did at the end of the Florida series, I will still believe he is a Top four D-man all day. KASPERI KAPANEN. Kick. Useful player like his tools. But let's be honest. You can find these guys in October for the league minimum. STUART SKINNER. Keep. So, you want to toss out a twenty-six-year-old home-grown goalie with fifty games of postseason experience and two cup appearances? With whom? And for how much? The G.M. owes it to the organization to cast about, but… DEREK RYAN. Kick. He plans to retire, though, so the decision is academic. Admirable career. CALVIN PICKARD. Keep. He has done nothing but help this franchise. Even if they acquired a third goalie, he would be excellent depth. Article content MAX JONES. Kick. No offence to the player, but the pro scout who liked him so much should be looking over his shoulder. JAKE WALMAN. Keep. Terrific acquisition, Bowman's best to date. A well-rounded, still young, all-situations D-man on a decent deal. NOAH PHILP. Keep. Big, still fairly young right-handed center. RFA. A two-way deal should be possible. Zero risk. JOHN KLINGBERG. Kick. Made a solid contribution, so much so that he can get better money elsewhere, like Connor Brown. And good for him if he can. JOSH BROWN. Kick. But who will take that contract? TRAVIS DERMOTT. Kick. Too tough of a lineup for him to crack. DRAKE CAGGIULA. Kick. Twice an Oiler, good pro, but time for someone a decade younger. MATTHEW SAVOIE. Keep. This team needs a youth infusion. Savoie looks NHL-ready. If he is not, then trade him. CAM DINEEN. Keep. A good, cheap pro for a team that desperately needed veteran d in Bakersfield. Article content OLIVIER RODRIGUE. Kick. If he has not made it by now… QUINN HUTSON. Keep. Organization is tragically short of young offensive prospects. TRENT FREDERIC. Keep. His type of player is rare. Do your best to see beyond the high ankle strain. Although I do worry about term for his player type. EVANDER KANE. So, can you replace what a healthy Kane brings for less? I get that some want to spend his $5.125m salary elsewhere. And injuries have become a concern at his age. But 1) I think it will cost a lot to trade Evander Kane and 2) You need more guys like him in the post-season, not fewer. I will relent and say Kick…but I reserve the right to repeat 1) and 2) if they ultimately choose to Keep him. In the weeks to come, I will be producing a series of articles where I dig deeper into some of these…particularly the ones I believe need to leave town. Stay tuned. Now on Bluesky @ Also, find me on Threads @kleavins, Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at KurtLeavins@ This article is not AI generated. Recently, at The Cult… In memory of Bruce McCurdy, 1955-2025. Article content Latest National Stories
Reuters
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Panthers dent, crack Stanley Cup mere hours after winning
June 18 - It didn't take long for the Florida Panthers to make their first impression on the Stanley Cup after winning it for a second time in as many years. Less than 12 hours after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final to win the coveted trophy again, the Panthers appeared to crack the bowl of Lord Stanley's Cup and dent the base of the trophy. The crack, as well as a slight inward dent, on the bowl reportedly occurred during Florida's on-ice celebration on Tuesday after the Panthers routed Edmonton 5-1 in Sunrise, Fla. As for the damage to the base, while no cause was cited, it was spotted at a local watering hole on Wednesday. Reports indicate that the keepers of the Cup will repair the 37-pound trophy in time for Sunday's celebration parade. Damage to the Stanley Cup is far from new for the 132-year-old piece of hardware. Players have had a long history of accidentally dropping the trophy during events. Other instances include a member of the 1962 Toronto Maple Leafs dropping the NHL's championship trophy into a bonfire. Another example came in 2008 when a newborn daughter of a Detroit Red Wings player defecated in the bowl while sitting in it (that player reportedly drank from it later that day.) --Field Level Media
