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Photo courtesy Roadside Attractions

Photo courtesy Elevation Pictures

Photo courtesy Martin Kovalcik

Our City Tonight

By Jim Gordon and Leeta Liepins

Published 11:21 PST, Fri January 17, 2025

Spotlight on a cocktail & two new movies

THE SIP – Let There Be Gin

Most of us are tired from the holiday season, and the feeling of being back to “the grind”. But it’s a new year and we’re in the mood for a new cocktail for January. As we do many times each year, we turn to Martin Kovalcik, beverage director for The Glowbal Restaurant Group. From his “home” behind the bar at Glowbal Restaurant, we join him for a cocktail called Let There Be Gin. “I’m excited to share this cocktail with you,” Kovalcik says as we watch him create. This cocktail was introduced to Glowbal customers on New Year’s Eve and is available throughout the month of January. “This first month of 2025 is about welcoming in the new year and toasting the future,” he says as we enjoy a first sip, “and what better way than with a cocktail that sparkles!” This is a delicious and elegant cocktail, and we can see a second one being ordered. The Let There Be Gin contains Lavender Fog Liqueur, Bombay Sapphire Gin, fresh lemon juice, honey syrup, topped with your choice of champagne, prosecco, or sparkling wine, and is garnished with fresh lemon zest and edible gold flakes. glowbalgroup.com

THE VIEW #1 – The Last Showgirl

In the long history of Hollywood, the “comeback” has always been admired and loved. Think Frank Sinatra, whose career was given up for dead in the early 1950’s, until he won a Best Supporting Oscar for From Here To Eternity, and became bigger than he ever was for the next 40 years. Think Marlon Brando, whose career was in a similar state, until he too won an Oscar for his performance in The Godfather, and in doing so, breathed new life into his career. All this leads us to Pamela Anderson and her new movie, The Last Showgirl. There’s very little we don’t know about this Vancouver Island actress who has been known more over the last 3 decades for that sex tape, bad movies choices and wearing that red bathing suit in Baywatch. But, like Sinatra, someone saw untapped depth in Anderson as an actress, who just needed the right role. That right role has come in a new movie called The Last Showgirl, the poignant story of glamourous Vegas performer trying to come to terms with her stage show closing after a 30-year run. Her future is far from certain, as is the relationship with her estranged daughter. The film is also a wistful and sadly sentimental examination of a Vegas that is no more. Director Gia Coppola has created a film which not only showcases Anderson’s acting talents but also those of David Bautista, Kiernan Shipka (former child actress from Mad Men), and an almost unrecognizable Jamie Lee Curtis. The Last Showgirl is in theatres now. roadsideattractions.com

THE VIEW #2 – Disco’s Revenge

We’ve always believed there are 2 viewpoints when it comes to that genre of music that thrived for about a decade starting in the early 1970’s. That music is called disco, and people love it or hate it. For us, we’ve always been in the love camp! It was everywhere in the 70’s, but by the early 80’s, the music was experiencing a severe backlash, and was banished from the airwaves, clubs, and parties. But something happened: the passage of time. By the late 90’s the music started to re-emerge, becoming as popular, if not more, than it was before. ABBA, The Bee Gees, and a long list of other groups and artists were popular again. Now comes a new documentary called Disco’s Revenge, which takes the viewer back to the beginnings of this music, to the Black and LGBTQ underground clubs, long before mainstream radio and Hollywood took notice. The film also features many of artists who were there, creating what is now timeless music, including Nile Rodgers and Chic, Billy Porter, Nona Hendryx and LaBelle, Grandmaster Flash, Fab Five Freddy, Nicky Siano, Earl Young and The Trammps, Kevin Saunderson, and Sylvester. Disco’s Revenge is available on all digital platforms starting January 7. elevationpictures.com