This article appeared in the newspaper, 24 hours, on Mon, 19 Dec 2005:
Babalong Nightclub Plans to go out with a Bang!
Although the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses supports
the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, small business owner Babs Lucas does not.
With sky rocketing property taxes and increased rent, Lucas is being
forced to shut the doors of Babalong nightclub because of a huge rent
increase.
"Where am I supposed to go next?" asked Lucas. "I've been looking a real estate even further east, but it's not looking any better."
Vancouver will feel the strain as the Olympics approach with few people benefiting from the event according to Lucas.
"It is unfathomable to think that the real estate market could get any more expensive. This will only force people out of their businesses and homes," said Lucas. "We should be taking care of the very people that make up this great city, not creating temporary and unsustainable jobs."
Babalong will host its private farewell party this New Year's Eve at the Gastown venue. They plan to go out in style with vintage decor, red carpets, tuxedoed ushers in top hats, a live band, trapeze performers, burlesque dancers, and all the guests arriving in vintage costumes.
By DONNA TILLOTSON, 24 HOURS
"Where am I supposed to go next?" asked Lucas. "I've been looking a real estate even further east, but it's not looking any better."
Vancouver will feel the strain as the Olympics approach with few people benefiting from the event according to Lucas.
"It is unfathomable to think that the real estate market could get any more expensive. This will only force people out of their businesses and homes," said Lucas. "We should be taking care of the very people that make up this great city, not creating temporary and unsustainable jobs."
Babalong will host its private farewell party this New Year's Eve at the Gastown venue. They plan to go out in style with vintage decor, red carpets, tuxedoed ushers in top hats, a live band, trapeze performers, burlesque dancers, and all the guests arriving in vintage costumes.
By DONNA TILLOTSON, 24 HOURS
This article appeared in the newspaper, Westender, in Nov, 2002:
Sweet Soul Designs: A Little Naughty, a Lot of Nice
Just a grand excuse to throw a party. Thatıs what Sweet Soul Designs studio is to entrepreneurial spirits Babs Lucas and Cara Long. Then again, itıs also an outlet for the duoıs artistic, theatrical, and outlandish bents, not to mention an idyllic and social way to make a living.The two are holed-up in a studio/showroom space in the east end of Vancouverıs Gastown, designing and creating feathered handbags, silk duvet covers, frilly bloomers, designer g-strings and floral pasties. ³Holed-up² is perhaps the wrong description. The two are far from reclusive. The parties the girls throw in the large loft-draped with silk brought from Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam-are the talk of the town. ³We do everything from Art openings, CD release parties to puppet shows, and burlesque performances.
The "Bosom Cupcakes", as the Sweet Soul sisters have dubbed their petal rich nipple topping pasties, are a hot ticket item, sold solo out of cigar boxes or with scintillating Bloomers to match in Chinese take-out boxes. ³We wore them down to Wrek Beach and we had women chasing us down wanting to buy them.By Diana Bennett
