It’s time to take a dip in the city’s past, take a visual history lesson, and imagine Vancouver life as it once was.

No other artist has captured the evolution of our city like Fred Herzog. The beloved photographer’s work is the subject of Equinox Gallery’s inaugural exhibition in it's new 12,000 square foot Project Space. With over one hundred works on display, most mesmerizing ones capture Vancouver vibrant street life in the late 1950s and early ’60. Vivid locales like Hastings, Robson and Main are forever encapsulated in a time—much like the semblance of the streets themselves—that is long past. Fred Herzog, Vancouver’s time capsule. — Anya Georgijevic

Equinox Gallery’s Project Space, 525 Great Northern Way, Vancouver, 604-736-2405, www.equinoxgallery.com

They’re new but you’d never know it.

No Sinner hasn’t even release their EP yet (it’ll drop in March) and already they seem poised for great things. Led by a husky-voiced powerhouse of a lead singer, their sound is big, blues-y, and Janis Joplin-esque. In fact, you’d never guess No Sinner was from Vancouver, until you watched the video for “Boo Hoo Hoo” which features one of the city’s most famous landmarks: the Waldorf Hotel. And speaking ofVancouver’s iconic landmarks, No Sinner is playing the Biltmore on Friday.

Can’t say no to that. —Kelsey Dundon

No Sinner, Friday, February 3rd at the Biltmore, tickets ($10) at www.ticketweb.ca

Buh-bye rabbit! It's the start of Chinese New Year and 2012 is the year of the Dragon.

We’ll harness its power and wear not one, but two of these fire-breathing creatures around our wrist. Made of woven leather and sterling silver, this Thomas Sabo bracelet is weighty enough to wear on its own, and rock ‘n’ roll enough to pair with a few of our favourite bangles and friendship-style bracelets.

Looks like it’s going to be a good year. —Kelsey Dundon

Sterling silver and leather bracelet $489 at Thomas Sabo, Oakridge Centre, 650 W. 41 Ave., Vancouver, 604-263-722, www.thomassabo.com

Pioneering Vancouver restaurateur Mark Brand (Boneta, The Diamond) hits the airwaves tonight with his new docu-drama Gastown Gamble about leasing derelict landmark butcher shop Save-On-Meats and attempting to revive it and its diner.

With amazing production values (gritty never looked so stylish) and flattering lighting (in a butcher shop!) the show feels fancy yet fearless.

Brand's wife Nico (an ex-Aritzia exec) manages the butchershop with grace under pressure, while his old friend "Fat" McDougall runs the increasingly tenuous numbers. The local talent (former addict Mike "Football" Haggerty) acts as handyman.  

But while the gentrifying East Hastings Street neighbourhood may be touted as the true star, there's no doubt that the charismatic Mark is what's keeping us watching.

Now that's what we call Brand power. —Sarah Bancroft

Gastown Gamble premieres tonight (6:30 PST/9:30 EST) on the Oprah Winfrey Network. View the trailer here.

To see photos of the launch event, please visit our Editor's Diary.

Our running playlist is all ready to go, but now it’s time to muffle all that unnecessary ambient noise.

The happy coloured Urbanears make for an ideal gym partner, whether one prefers classic headsets like Plattan ($69.99) or tiny earplugs like Bagis ($39.99). Both are noise-cancelling with a TPE cord eliminating sound distortions caused by friction, so we can run as hard as we want while eliminating the constant chitter-chatter coming from our gym mates. Workout serenity. — Anya Georgijevic

At Homewerx, 2928 Granville St., Vancouver, 604-733-2203 or 1053 Davie St., Vancouver, 604-682-2204, www.homewerx.ca, and Walrus, 3408 Cambie St., Vancouver, 604-874-9770, www.walrushome.com

Resist the urge to hibernate with these January blues-beating ideas.

Dirty Apron Classes
With workshops at the Dirty Apron, you can become the home chef the Food Network says you can be. We especially love the sound of No Place Like Home ($150), Sea to Sky ($150), and Soup Sisters ($50) classes.Dirty Apron, 540 Beatty St., Vancouver, 604-879-8588, www.dirtyapron.com

Burlesque at the Keefer 
Stay warm by sipping The Keefer’s signature “Prescriptions” and ogling the moves of Sweet Soul Burlesque dancers Thursday nights. $10 cover at The Keefer Bar, 135 Keefer St., Vancouver, 604-688-1961, www.thekeeferbar.com

Dine Out Vancouver
Rather have someone else slave over a hot stove? Reserve your place for Dine Out Vancouver, which starts January 20th, before every good seat in town is taken. www.tourismvancouver.com/dine

The Push Festival January 17 to February 4
Fill your calendar with genre-bending music, experimental film and intimate artists’ talks. Or go see Solo and Ensemble and cross them all off your list at once.

Youth Lagoon at Biltmore
Youth Lagoon, whose dreamy, atmospheric music has earned the 22-year-old Idahoan a cult following, will be playing the Biltmore on Friday, January 20th. Ticket are $13 in advance (plus service charges at Red Cat and Zulu. And if that’s not to your taste, there’s always Hanson.  —Kelsey Dundon

As 2011 comes to an end our editors share their New Year's traditions, superstitions and resolutions:

It’s a Greek tradition that finding the hidden coin inside the vasilopita brings good luck and happiness in the coming year. Serano Bakery in Greektown bakes dozens and dozens of the sweet bread. The best part is watching everyone dig through it in the hopes of finding the silver. From $8, Serano Bakery, 830 Pape Ave., Toronto, 416-462-2735, www.seranobakery.com —Athena Tsavliris

There is an old superstition that says luck, love and prosperity will come to those who dance in the open air on New Year’s Day. A group of friends and I plan on performing a jubilant jig on January 1st in the field across from my apartment. I’m going to keep it up and dance through 2012 when the mood strikes especially when no one is watching. — Jaelyn Molyneux, Calgary editor

Since this is my last post as the Montreal Editor, I’d just like to take the opportunity to thank you all for reading and wish you a very happy New Year! Keep exploring Montreal and enjoying all this great city has to offer!  —Jennifer Nachshen, Montreal editor

This blog post, Top Five Regrets of the Dying, really moved me recently. The top regrets included not letting oneself be happier, and not spending enough time with their kids. No one wished they had made more money, or had been more successful. As a result, my New Year’s resolution is not to do ANY more work on Sundays. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg, Vancouver fashion editor

Thirty cookbooks and counting, and I only cook, um, maybe once a month. That’s not counting quick lunches, but still… embarrassing. My resolution is to prepare one delicious dinner a week, with a little help from my friends Ferran, Thomas, Heston, Tony, Eric, David, Jamie, Julia, Vikram….— Anya Georgijevic, Vancouver beauty editor

Every year, I set goals, write them down and post them above my desk so they can literally hang over my head all year long. Top of my list for 2012? Go whale-watching. —Kelsey Dundon, Vancouver lifestyle editor

My grandparents used to take care of us kids when my parents when out on the town to celebrate New Year's Eve. Every year right before midnight my grandfather would open the back door to "let the old year out" and then open the front door to "let the new year in". For old time's sake and as a little ode to my amazing grandfather I still do this every year. —Kelsey Mulyk, Managing editor

There's nothing better than curling up with a good book, our editors share their favourite reads:

Will Ferguson’s Canadian Pie serves up slice-of-life stories the humour writer has collected throughout his career, all of which confirm we live in a delightfully quirky country. $32 at Shelf Life Books, 100, 1302 Fourth St. S.W., Calgary, 403-265-1033, www.shelflifebooks.ca — Jaelyn Molyneux, Calgary editor

Watership Down is one of my favourite books. My husband read it recently and he was enamoured. It is the beautiful story of a group of rabbits running away to start a new life, and a perfect feel-good-make-me-smile novel. $9.98 at www.amazon.ca —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg, Vancouver fashion editor

For some spine-tingling spookiness pick up Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children ($14.43), peppered with vintage photographs for a multi-sensorial reading experience. At www.amazon.ca —Jennifer Nachshen, Montreal editor

If you read one book over the holidays, let it be Téa Obreht’s debut novel, The Tiger’s Wife. What a beautifully written book from a young author with startling talent. $12.27 at www.amazon.ca —Athena Tsavliris, Toronto editor

Of the several books published on Coco Chanel just this year, Intimate Chanel gives us an unprecedented glimpse into her private life, thanks to Chanel’s grandniece and only living relative, who opened the family archives to the author. Through family photographs, correspondence, gifts from her friends and lovers, the book has a voyeuristic feel, like rummaging through someone’s secret drawers. In this case, it’s “Auntie Coco’s.”  $42.64 at www.amazon.ca — Anya Georgijevic, Vancouver beauty editor

I really loved Jeffrey Eugenides’s last book, Middlesex, so I’m going to spend some quality time with my couch this holiday and power through his just-published tome The Marriage Plot. $24.31 at www.amazon.ca —Kelsey Dundon, Vancouver lifestyle editor

For a seriously good cry nothing beats the tragic romance of The Time Traveler's Wife by Audery Niffenegger. Make sure you have ample Kleenex, a cozy blanket and glass (or bottle?) of red wine while you wallow in the delicious sadness of this beautifully written novel. $15.88 at www.amazon.ca —Kelsey Mulyk, Managing editor

Over the holidays there is nothing quite as indulgent as spending an afternoon watching your favourite movie, our editors share their top picks:

The Future
The Future begins with a thirty-something couple adopting an injured cat and continues through 30 days of questioning mortality, the need for attention and profound loneliness, all told through the poetic mind of writer/director/ star Miranda July. $34.95 at www.amazon.ca —Jaelyn Molyneux, Calgary editor

Lord of the Rings trilogy
The Christmas tradition I look forward to the most is my annual viewing of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I always opt for the extended version, and it takes me a few days to watch since I usually fall asleep a couple times. There is nothing better than lounging on the sofa watching good looking, burly guys riding horses and saving Middle Earth. $68.99 for the Special Extended Edition Trilogy at www.amazon.ca. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg, Vancouver fashion editor

Jersey Shore
I’m only slightly ashamed of my addiction to Jersey Shore, but I’ll break open the boxed wine to enjoy the gang’s pre-rehab antics in Italy from Season Four. $19.99 at  www.amazon.ca —Jennifer Nachshen, Montreal editor

Age of Innocence
Martin Scorsese may be best known for his dark, brooding crime dramas, but this adaptation of Edith Wharton's 1920 Pulitzer Prize-winning, melancholy, yet cleverly funny novel about New York's high society is just as complex. “Period drama?” he’ll ask. “It’s Martin Scorsese,” you’ll explain.  $9.49 at www.amazon.ca — Anya Georgijevic, Vancouver beauty editor

Baz Luhrman’s Romeo + Juliet
I can’t wait to grab my girlfriends and reminisce about a time when “Love Fool” was all over the radio, Claire Danes looked all of 14, and Leo was like ohmigod so cute. $16.98 at www.chapters.indigo.ca —Kelsey Dundon, Vancouver lifestyle editor

Bill Cunningham New York
The Christmas holidays can be crazy, but if I finally get to watch the Bill Cunningham doc in a quiet room with leftover turkey and trimmings, I’ll be very chuffed. $23.99 at www.amazon.ca —Athena Tsavliris, Toronto editor

Amélie
This beautiful French film (shot in Paris) takes you along on a quirky love story just perfect for a snowy day. You'll want to practice your French on your sweetie after watching this adorable film.  $15.68 at www.amazon.ca —Kelsey Mulyk, Managing editor

This time of year, it’s a treat to spend time with our significant others (without the in-laws). Here are our picks for romantic holi-date ideas.

Holiday Films at VIFF
Vancity Theatre has a line-up of holiday-themed classics like Some like it Hot, It’s a Wonderful Life, and A Christmas Carol. Which is perfect because this might be the only time of year we can guilt-trip him into watching black-and-white films.

Karaoke Christmas Lights Tour
If a lit-up trolley equipped with a karaoke machine doesn’t scream romance, we don’t know what does. We’ll happily hop aboard and warm up. Our vocal cords, that is.

Outdoor Ice Skating at Grouse Mountain
Unlike the rest of this country, we can’t use our backyard as a skating rink. But up on the mountain, that’s a whole other story. Grab your skates and a thermos of hot cocoa and unleash your inner Michelle Kwan.

Patron Saint of Stanley Park
Written by a Vancouverite and set in this city’s most famous park, this heart-wrenching, heart-warming tale is perfect for a little after-dinner theatre.

Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge
On Dasher! On Dancer! On the Capilano Suspension Bridge! Which is illuminated with a gazillion twinkling lights this time of year. —Kelsey Dundon