Campagnolo ROMA

Saturday night, my lady and I found ourselves dropping into Campagnolo (2297 Hastings St. East) on a whim. It was dinner time and the spot was bustling but our hostess still found us a spot within minutes sans reservations. I ordered their Campagnolo Ale right off the bat and was treated to a nutty, bittersweet, almost winterish brew. Good start.

We started with the octopus salad which featured plenty of shaved fennel, black olives, chilled potatoe and braised octopus in a red wine vinaigrette. For anyone who thinks octopus is smelly and rubbery, this dish showcased the exact opposite. Perfectly executed.

Our mains were shared. The first was the rigatoni all’amatriciana, cooked al dente with hunks of pancetta, beans and pecorino romano cheese. Really hard not to eat slow. The second was the salsiccia pizza that was on special and not on the menu. This crispy pizza featured fennel sausage, pickled peppers, basil, pecorino and the best sparse yet tangy tomato sauce that I have ever tasted. I could have eaten 5 of these pizzas to myself.

The best part of this meal, tho, was their in-house chili concoction that’s more common with Chinese restaurants. Here, they roast and mix fennel seeds, chili flakes and cracked black pepper in olive oil. It’s meant to compliment the pizza but I put it on everything just short of the tiramisu, which was also fantastic considering the copious amounts of creme and very subtle taste of rum.

With drinks and dessert, this meal came in just under $80 for two which gets thumbs up from this guy. Be sure to check out this fantastic addition to the Sunrise neighbourhood.

SPECNOLOGY by Jeff Spec

Jeff Spec is back with his new full-length album Specnology. For his followers that may have been in the dark as to where he has been musically, Mr. Spec finally sheds some much needed light on his now public personal life with tracks like “I’ve Been Trying” and “Remember Me.” The record is refreshing and there seems to be a new level of depth to his signature, playful style. Whether it’s passing rhymes to Eastvan’s e.d.g.e. on “Nobody Else” or rolling alongside Moka Only on “I Can’t Say It“, Mr. Spec defly shows a renewed joy to his brand of soulful and meaningful hip-hop music. Be sure to head over to his BandCamp page HERE to purchase the album for a below-low price or preview it for FREE below:

1. I’ve Been Trying
2. The Bells
3. Through It All
4. Nobody Else feat. e.d.g.e.
5. Specnology
6. Dam Thing Funny feat. Ishkan and Reflectionz
7. Remember Me
8. Strange Land feat. David Morin
9. I Can’t Say It feat. Moka Only
10. Talk About It feat. Adi Baybay
11. So Much More feat. Rasul Syed
12. Elroy Jetson
13. The Magic feat. Claire Mortifee
14. Radio! feat. Psy
15. Clyde Stubblefield (Bonus)

Here’s the vid to the first single by justalilhype! that premiered a few months back.

ALL NOIR by Malicious

We heading way out East today to bring you Montreal MC Malicious‘ new single, All Noir, off his upcoming Life’s So Sample 3. The infectious track samples the traditional Haka or native chant that’s performed by New Zealand‘s Championship rugby team “The All Blacks” before every game.

Download the Kevinnottingham.com & indiehiphop.net presented track for FREE HERE!

Thanks to BroadNMarket of the Accomplices for sending that over! As a bonus, check his collab with Houston’s SoulBrotha on the Heartbreache series:

Japanese Scare Tactics

It never ceases to amaze me how far the Japanese will go to scare the shit out of each other. So good.

Happy Halloween y’all!

The 2013 Electric DeLorean DMC-12

The DeLorean Motor Company based in Texas is resurrecting its beloved DeLorean of yesteryear as an electric model. Dubbed the DMCEV-12, this DeLorean will have have a limited production with an approximate sales tag of $100,000. Aside from the serious interior and engine upgrades, the body and styling are to remain very faithful to 1981. And yes, it can drive 88 mph. Actually, it can get up to 125 mph. Peep the test drive vid below!

Previously, the NIKE MAG and Marty McFly’s Jacket.

The Known Universe by the American Museum of Natural History

In light of all the natural disasters, all the political turmoil, the war, the death, the next 10 years with Luongo and the price of Kanye x Jay-Z WTT tickets, one must be able to sit back and contemplate this life we live. Ladies and gentlemen…the Known Universe.

The Known Universe takes viewers from the Himalayas through our atmosphere and the inky black of space to the afterglow of the Big Bang. Every star, planet, and quasar seen in the film is possible because of the world’s most complete four-dimensional map of the universe, the Digital Universe Atlas that is maintained and updated by astrophysicists at the American Museum of Natural History.

hey, i can see eastvan!

MANGA MIXTAPE by Akira The Don

In celebration of Manga Entertainment’s 20th Anniversary, UK rapper Akira The Don releases this 16 track mixtape with references to films like Ghost In The Shell, Golgo 13 and, of course, Akira. Check it out for FREE below!

Banksy x Occupy London

Celebrated street artist, Banksy, recently showed his support for the Occupy London Movement with a gift to liven up the spirits of the protesters. In his latest sculpture, Banksy depicts Monopoly spokesman, Uncle Pennybags, as a panhandler seeking a corporate bailout. Nice.

Photo credit: Jason Reeve Photography

http://www.flickr.com/photos/36250307@N03/6278818500/

Tom Morello x Occupy Vancouver

Watch this fantastic video by Grounded TV featuring Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine.