Invites to review restaurants, clubs, music and other products and services have been piling up over the past few weeks and who am I to say no, people? We're approaching my two year anniversary here on Up Your Alley and I'm going to implement a few new features, including a review section. First up on the docket: Charlie's Restaurant & Bar

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Location: 1265 Hamilton Street Vancouver (between Drake and Davie)

Reservations: 604-568-6685 or click here.

A new restaurant in Yaletown? You don't say...

I'm just clearing the air upfront so you don't go into this review the same way I read over my invitation to Charlie's Restaurant & Bar the other night. I should also admit that I'm not a huge pizza fan either. So why would I go to this kind of opening?

Well, any excuse to rub elbows in Yaletown. Yes, I am that guy. I also know their publicist and since he knows what he likes and isn't afraid to tell people about it, that was enough for me to come and check it out.

The first thing I noticed walking in, of course, was the bar (see photos below). It dominates the room and in a good way. Walking up to get a drink is an exercise in visibility. While ordering, you can be clearly seen from both lounging areas and also from the table booths that line this resto-lounge. It is very much a "look at me" experience and would appeal to anyone who is out to be seen.

Did I like? Bless my fame-whorey little heart. I loved the visibility factor! And was also fascinated by the spider light-fixture installed over the bar (come check it out for yourself).

As for the artisan pizza, Charlie's is on to something. The Vegetarian in particular was drool-worthy and was the perfect companion to a glass of Russell Cream Ale. 

When to go: Charlie's is perfect for starting a night out over cocktails with a few close friends or would be a good last stop after the clubs for those who demand more than what Megabite and Flying Wedges of the world currently provide.

Noteworthy: I saw Patrick and Donovan from Homorazzi there. As well as some of my favourite Vancouver bloggers:

With Victoria Revay, blogger from Beyond Robson.

With Sheryl Yen, blogger and social reporter for The Socialist.

(Photos by the amazing Geoff Wilton! Thanks, buddy!)

In the throws of tv show premiere fever (awesome review by Homorazzi's Donovan), I forgot Monday night that Tuesday Hotness was next up on Up Your Alley's bloggy programming. A week without hotness? Nay. Shame on me.

So I'm making it up to you. So although yesterday's posting about men who look like lesbians was delightful, today's posting about Stephen John Davis ups the ante to delightfully hot. Thanks to DNA magazine.

It's that time of year again, Vancouver. Pride has come and gone which means it's festival time. From the Vancouver Queer Film Festival to the Fringe to the Vancouver International Writer's Festival, there will be a lot of culture to cover over the next few months, so get your calendars out and start marking dates.

First up is the Vancouver Queer Film Festival, which runs from Aug 13 - Aug 23. Follow that link and you'll have access to a complete list of films and screenings, as well as background on the Festival. I've reviewed two films for Xtra West and my reviews will be appearing in the next print edition, which hits the streets on Wed Aug 12.

On Monday, Up Your Alley is going to feature a special interview with author-friend-celebutante Amber Dawn, who is the Director of Programming at this year's festival.

In advance of that interview, here is a VQFF commercial featuring Patrick Levesque, who is a co-founder of Homorazzi, co-owner of Masc (on Davie in Yaletown) and recently participated in the Celebriy Shower Power with me at the Odyssey during Pride Week.

Enjoy! And remember: Lady Miss Kier is spinning at Pulse tonight and Tiga is spinning at Celebrities. Get out and get your dance on!

When I think of summer 2008, I think of Vancouver's underserviced queer presence online. This was before Homorazzi's big splashy debut at the start of '09, somewhere around the time a dewy-eyed young twenty-something was debating whether to sign his soul over to Xtra.ca to help build their online blogging brand in Vancouver, debating whether his saucy debut should be "Bright Lights, Big Twinky" or "Right Up Your Alley: Vancouver's Gay Blog"...oh back then. I heart you and I miss you.

Now there's a new kid on the block, a handsome young go-getter named Pinq, who has been identified in the following photo for your easy reading convenience:

Pfft. Nice jacket, Jordan.

This "Pinq" has also been known to resemble:

For those of you looking for something a little more highbrow to compliment your daily queer quotient online, check out Pinq. I like their format. Check out this posting on Sophie Ellis Bextor.

Also: send me a question, any question, and two online experts will answer it in a new video format called "Aleholes" that I'm bringing to Up Your Alley soon.

Stephen at Homorazzi posted this last week and since everyone knows I'm trying to decide on a name for my as-of-not-yet-conceived-and-probably-never-will-be baby daughter, this list came at just the right time. I know some regular readers on UYA will appreciate this vid. Thanks to Homorazzi for posting consistently great shit.