Instead of a New Year’s resolution, why not just continue to chill out? If it ain’t broken… then it’s time to fixate on another fabulous playlist from Pamela Rounis. Slow house rocks and rolls you like a trance-y lullaby. Put your “To Do” list away.

Listen to Pam’s “Golden” Playlist

A maven of music, a food snob and a stick­ler when it comes to good design, those of us who know Pam regard her as a pas­sion­ate per­son for all things cre­ative. Pam received her Bach­e­lor of Fine Arts from Emily Carr Uni­ver­sity of Art& Design in 2006 and her diploma with hon­ours in Illus­tra­tion and Design from Capi­lano University’s IDEA Program.

Superfly photo babe Devon Reycraft captures Vancouver’s holiday spirit, Sad Mag style, which helped to raise $1400 for the Vancouver Crisis center. With over 300 people in attendance, Not So Silent Night was a rip-roaring success, evidenced by the glitter, glamour, and good will of its attendees.

Sad Mag: Who are you and what do you do?

Rachelle Simoneau: My name is Rachelle. I like taking photos.

SM: When did you first start taking photos? What attracted you to photography?

RS: I’ve always been drawn to photography, from the surprise of getting my film developed to going to The Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography in Ottawa every chance I got.

SM: Tell us about your first camera.

RS: My first camera was my dad’s old Canon FTb manual SLR that I still use almost everyday in Paris.

SM: How did you end up in Paris?

RS: I moved to Europe in 2010 and was shooting a lot in London. When it came time for a change, Paris was an easy decision to make. The process of getting here was a little more difficult, but it’s all good now.

SM: What’s it like working as a photographer in Europe vs in Canada? Is the culture around photography different?

RS: As a fashion photographer I notice styles and feel of photos change drastically from city to city. It’s been exciting for me to develop my own style in different major cultural centers.

SM: What do you miss about Vancouver?

RS: My friends, bike culture, seeing the mountains and ocean every day, sushi at Toshi’s, Wreck Beach.

SM: Who are your favourite Vancouver photographers?

RS: I love Candice Meyer‘s fashion work and Grant Harder‘s portraits around Vancouver.

SM:Do you have a favourite photograph of your own?

RS: The photo I keep coming back to is from a shoot in 2009. I was still living in Vancouver and assisting at a studio when I felt that fire to start shooting on my own. I called a couple of friends and we went to Lynn Valley. I see that photo as a departure point for my career and still love it.

SM: Where can we find more of your work?

RS: I post new work on my blog while I work on my new website.

In anticipation of Issue #10: VANIMAUX comes a summer sizzla of a party from the minds of Sad Mag.

VANIMALS brings you a decade-blending dance tunes courtesy of DJ JEF LEPPARD and friends while babely photographers will be on hand with cameras to capture your animal spirit.

That’s right — it’s an ANIMAL-THEMED party, meaning whip out your best unicorn horn, tiger claws, skunk stripe, or just come dressed in head-to-toe leopard print and you’ll get in free.

For everyone else, cover is $5 at the door and includes a free issue of SAD MAG. Come support us and we’ll help get you drunk and primal.

Thursday, July 5th
The Cobalt (917 Main)
Doors at 8PM
$5 cover
RSVP on Facebook! 

We’re getting into the green spirit at Sad Mag in anticipation of our next issue, VANIMAUX (#10), which is all about our local culture around food and the environment. So what better event to celebrate than a Carrotmob at the Cascade Room?

For those who don’t know, a Carrotmob is a “reverse consumer boycott,” supporting businesses to make positive changes for the environment. All the money spent at the Cascade Room on Wednesday, June 27th, will be used to:

– purchase new ENERGY STAR low?flow dishwashers
– install a VITO oil filtration system to reduce oil used for deepfrying
– implement a “ask for water” policy
– to expand their waste diversion to include composting

As event coordinator Joshua Schmidt puts it, “Carrotmob not only demonstrates to business the value of going green, it supports them to do so in a positive way where everybody wins; business, society, and the planet. Everyone is invited to join the mob this Wednesday June 27th, enjoy some great food and drink, save the planet, and of course have fun!” Plus the Cascade Room has a killer cocktail menu, and polenta fries, and it’s a rare opportunity to consume those and feel benevolent for it!

Check the event page on Facebook for details about the music and festivities, and bring your pals out on Wednesday!

Cascade Room (2616 Main)
June 27, 12-2PM (reservations only) or 5PM-late
Live entertainment + door prizes
RSVP on Facebook

Sad Mag is proud to present “Documenting Your Life: A Photographer’s Notes From the Field.” This is the first in our upcoming series of affordable creative workshops for beginners, hobbyists, students and aspiring professionals.

Grant Harder is a Vancouver freelance photographer who has shot for Monocle, The Walrus, Vancouver Magazine and the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business—among many more. He will be teaching some of his tricks of the trade, including how to see and think like a photographer.

At the Waldorf
Saturday, July 9 from 12 – 3pm
The Waldorf
Class fee is $20 (includes a take-home booklet)

Click to learn more or to register.