#dnsbikegang

Showing posts with label bff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bff. Show all posts

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Deadly Nightshades featured in the Huffington Post!

We were happy to be interviewed by the amazing Amelia Brown for the Huffington Post Canada on how we Gen Y/ Millennials use cycling to express our style, independence and create the culture we value.
"The Deadly Nightshades are convinced that the bicycle is magic. When they're out as a "roving midnight bike gang," in seafoam green jackets, the seven women are a bewitching sight, mixing cycling, art and fashion."
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Just one note, for us "fashion" is more "personal style". The Deadly Nightshades came about from a firm distaste of the traditional fashion industry, and it was our punk way to be ourselves and assert our own values. So dress how you want, define your own cycle chic, don't let others tell you how to express yourself, and make your own informed decisions first and foremost.

Already the one comment on the blog is about how we aren't wearing helmets. (Rolls eyes.) Our official stance is this: we all do and we all don't, depending on various factors. Helmets, while AWESOME and have saved several of our noggins at various points, aren't a fix-all for bike safety, and are really just this trolling, polarizing issue we'd all be best to just drop as a topic of focus. The fact is, if we had been wearing helmets we'd be criticized for promoting a culture of fear and not putting the emphasis on car driver resonsiblity. Luke Brocki did an awesome write up of the issue in his article on Velo-City 2012. 

The Huffington post article is a great article read all around, addressing economic issues like the crippling cost of cars, awesome places like the Bike Kitchen at UBC, and events like the Bicycle Film Festival.
"Despite efforts to market bright, affordable and gadget-laden cars to the Millennials, the bicycle is an easy solution that offers Generation Y freedom to get where they need to go without worrying about insurance payments down the road."
Huzzah! Let the culture shift continue!

Sunday, July 15, 2012

FABRIC BIKE!


Earlier this month, Cannibal Vixen,  Snow White & myself made the long drive (with bicycles in tow) to New York City for the 12th Bicycle Film Festival. As always it was great to spend some time in a city we love so much & were reminded that it's been a year since our film FABRIC BIKE debuted there last summer. So we decided it was time to release it to the clutches of the internet.

FABRIC BIKE was so much fun to make, and the response we've had worldwide this year has been so lovely & overwhelming. We hope that this is one in a series of many creative shorts to come out of our little collective. So thanks again & enjoy.

xo.
DNS.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

MAKE A BIKE MOVIE.

It's like a BFF "I spy", and I spy FABRIC BIKE. But for the record, february hair flips in spandex & bathrobes = coldest day of shooting ever. But, make a bike movie. We promise they're fun to do. BFF entries for 2012 are due April 21st!

Monday, November 14, 2011

BFF TORONTO 11 VIDEO RECAP.


Thanks to Snow White for editing this little video recap of the BFF in Toronto this year. So fun, as always.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

BFF PIRATES!

whoa. remember this night? Gotta love @bikepirates.
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Thursday, September 15, 2011

BFF TORONTO SCREENINGS!

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Better late then never right? Gonna be posting some highlights from Toronto's Bicycle Film Festival, over the next little while. So fun! Thanks again to our sponsors, Cap C, Cervelo, Crumpler, Orontas, YNOT, Dandyhorse, Bikes on Wheels & so so many others.

And an even bigger thanks to all our friends, family & the bike community of Toronto for coming out to our screening of FABRIC BIKE. The response & love was overwhelming. And if you're in Vienna, San Francisco, Lisbon or Sydney - FABRIC BIKE and the BFF are coming your way over the next month!
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Thursday, August 25, 2011

HELL TRACK 4: RAILPATH SPRINTS.


Man I love my city. Hands down, Hell Track, combined with BFF, combined with a giant after party at Bike Pirates = one epic night. Check out this awesome edit of the sprints put together by our buddy Nick Iwanyshyn.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

BFF TO DAY III & IV: SCREENINGS & DANCE OFFS.

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The Bicycle Film Festival here in Toronto is in full swing. Tonight's screenings are going to be great with 3 different programs at 5, 7 & 9pm at the Royal Cinema - specifically the 9pm screening of Urban Bike Shorts, including the Canadian premiere of our film FABRIC BIKE. Then don't forget to come dance your face off at our closing party Let's Get Cranked at Hard Luck Bar.

It's going to be hard to top last night, but I think we can do it. Friday was fantastic with amazing films from all over the world. My favourite short of the night was definitely "Of Steel" directed by Ben Ingham. Check out the trailer below. We then raced and danced the night away at Bike Pirates, screaming our way through goldsprints, flooding the dance floor & out into the back alley. I seriously can't wait for all the photos from the last few days to surface.

SEE YOU TONIGHT!

BFF PHOTO RECAP: PANEL DISCUSSION!

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Here's some pictures from the amazing panel discussion on wednesday night at the Gladstone Hotel. Thanks again to James, Tammy, Dave & Shamez for speaking, and also to Yvonne for doing a wonderful job moderating. Photos by Erin Simkin.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

BFF DAY II: BIKES ROCK!

Riding with headphones in, is a dangerous, but extremely guilty pleasure of mine. There's nothing like finding that perfect track to glide around your city to - so for me, biking and good music sort of go hand in hand.

Needless to say we're all super pumped for BIKES ROCK! at the Legendary Horsehoe Tavern tonight! I do love me some good pop & tiny ukeleles! So come see these awesome bands:

SPIN by Evalyn Perry

Doors at 8:30pm TONIGHT!
Tickets $12

And if it's half as amazing as last night was - BFF TO is off to a fantastic start! The panel discussion was wonderful & inspiring. It's so nice to remind yourself in the midst of a negative political climate around cycling in Toronto at the moment, that there are so many people who can think independently, and present themselves eloquently. That, we as the cycling community, can rally, and think, and coduct ourselves positively. (And, a huge thanks to Dave Meslin for unexpectedly using us as an example for positive action - I have a serious brain crush on that man.)

Also, the artwork & bikes are phemoninal, and if you didn't make it out yesterday, the show is hanging til Sunday August 14th at The Gladstone Hotel.


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

BFF DAY I: BACK BREAKS!

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The first day of the BFF Toronto is about to begin! The girls just finished hanging the art exhibit at the Gladstone Hotel, and it looks incredible!

This Wednesday night is your chance to see the Fabric Bike in person, alongside amazing pieces from Mark Charlebrois, Janet Bike Girl, and so many other fantastic local artists like Dmirti Bondarenko, who's beautiful work is featured above.

Back Breaks Art Exhibit is free, and runs from 6-10 at The Gladstone - With an amazing panel discussion mixing things up at 7. The panel, moderated by Yvonne Bamrick, is discussing "How to win over a non-cyclist at a dinner party." And features this stacked line up of speakers:

Dave Meslin (Founder, Toronto Cyclists Union)
Tammy Thorne (Editor, Dandyhorse Magazine)
James Schwartz (Founder & Editor, Urban Country)
Shamez Amlani (Co-Founder, Steets are for People)

See you tonight!

Friday, August 5, 2011

BFF COMING TO TORONTO!

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Next week the Bicycle Film Festival stops in our fair city.

This year, we've been more involved than ever in helping bring the BFF back to Toronto. From Patricia & Kirsten curating the art exhibit, to Cat wrangling volunteers, to Irene's media saavy ways, to me (Laura) illustrating the promotional posters alongside the lovely & talented graphic designer Frank Maidens. And so many other things inbetween.

But next week it all goes down. art. films. parties. races. goldsprints. dancing. bikes.

Not to mention, the Canadian premiere of our short film FABRIC BIKE at the Royal theatre! The unveiling of the Fabric Bike itself at the Gladstone! AND the out of control closing party we're throwing at hardluck bar on the last night of the festival!

so. much. stuff.

Get ready for us to bombard you with blog posts... or you can check out the program & buy your tickets online HERE!

Friday, July 15, 2011

GIRLS ON FILM....OR ON BIKES?

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So new york. what a trip. Epic bike rides to art shows to film screenings to dance parties to border crossings.


I think what I love most about attending the BFF in New York, is the people who travel in from all over the world. It’s so empowering to surround yourself with individuals just as involved, and just as in love with their bicycles. A community that transcends class and culture.

It also meant that the screenings were a beast all of their own. Lots of yelling and cheering and loving smack talk. A lively crowd to say the least.


But one thing has stuck with me that I’m feeling a little conflicted on. Brendt, the founder of the festival got up the the beginning of the Urban Shorts program and introduced directors, etc. During which he said lovely things about us Nightshades. He pointed out that two areas that are severely lacking in women, are specifically the film community, and the bike community. And how exciting it is to see more girls like us, stepping up.


Sentiments that were wonderful to have publicly acknowledged. But, at the same time, while it’s nice to be noticed as a minority in a scene, it’s weird to be called out for being women. It’s not as though anyone else would be called out for being a man. And while I in no way fault Brendt for his kind comments towards us- if anything, it just highlighted how far we have to go. And made me wonder why this is. Why we are such a novelty. Why more girls don’t ride. Or rather, why more girls don’t make themselves seen in the cycling community in the same numbers than men do. Because I think there are a lot of us out there.


Maybe it’s time for us to band together a little more. So for starters, if you are, or know of any rad girls who ride, send a link or a photo to dnsbikegang@gmail.com.


We’d love to rep all those lovely ladies on bikes out there. Because I know we’re not alone in this.



Also, side note: SERIOUSLY TORONTO?!?! COME ON!


Monday, June 27, 2011

BFF! NYC! DNS! FTW!

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What a ridiculous weekend. More stories & photos to come. But, let's just go back and do it all over again, yeah?

Saturday, June 25, 2011

BFF NEW YORK PART I: JOYRIDE!

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So far our time in New York has been fantastic. Joyride at the Spencer Brownstone Gallery in Soho was great and entirely packed. Maybe the fact that the bar was dry by 8 pm was a good sign. It was an amazing chance to check out the other artists, make a whole lot of new friends and chat about the Bike. So far it seems to be getting a fairly good response. Check out this article written by Velojoy, the photo below was a sweet shot Prolly snapped.

But the best is yet to come! Our film is premiering today at the Anthology Film Archives at 6, 8 & 10 pm! And according to Opening Ceremony even listed it as one of the Top 10 Must-See films at the 2011 BFF.

So now is when we roll out of bed (other people's couches & floors), scrounge up some breakfast (yes it's well past noon) and make our way over to the BFF Street Party. Thanks for all the love NYC!!
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Tuesday, June 21, 2011

FABRIC BIKE IN NEW YORK!

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So tomorrow's the big day. The one where we get up ridiculously early and drive 9 hours to the New York City, where the Bicycle Film Festival circut for 2011 begins Wednesday.

Don't miss the fabric bike in person at the opening for JOYRIDE in Soho, and our film premiere in the Urban Shorts Program on the lower east side. Details for both below:

Thursday, June 23rd
Spencer Brownstone Gallery
3 Wooster St
Opening: 6-9 pm

Saturday, June 25th
Anthology Film Archives
32 2nd Ave, at 2nd St.
Screenings: 6pm, 8pm & 10 pm

Mayhem awaits.

Monday, June 6, 2011

BFF NYC program announced!

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The film line-up for the BFF in NYC was announced this week! We were ecstatic to see our short FABRIC BIKE kicking off the Urban Shorts Program, alongside the likes of Spike Jonze & Lucas Brunelle. (WHAT.)

So we're excitedly counting down the days until the festival, when we load our cars full of bicycles (both fabric and metal), and make the drive down.

Check out the full program here, & hopefully we'll see some of you in NYC!


Monday, May 16, 2011

SPANDEX CATS WE LOVE!

So I'm always really interested by our blog's analytics! It's always really neat to see where people are hearing about us from, and what countries we're being visited by.

But my favourite, is that the most commonly googled phrase (second to "deadly nighshades") that leads to us is "spandex party" (appropriate) and our top post for ALL TIME (four years) is this. People sure love their spandex and cat pictures (Nightshades included - Irene has an entire wall in her house dedicated to cat art, vintage feline-themed wallpaper and all).

So, in a news update to please the masses:
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1: NEW KITTENS ARE THE BEST! (although I'm officially getting no work done at home anymore). I'm usually a hardcore dog person, but this little guy is promptly winning me over.

2. (although not spandex or cat related - tricked!) As well as our short film being premiered in New York this June, the Fabric Bike itself is going to be unveiled as a part of BFF NYC's JOYRIDE art exhibit. So you should probably come to New York, check out some art, check out some films, and say hey!

Bonus points if you're wearing spandex, or have a kitten for me to hold...

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

BIKE FILM FEST 2011 ACCEPTANCE!

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So we were really excited to get a call from Brendt Barbur, founder of the International Bicycle Film Festival, telling us that our short film FABRIC BIKE has been accepted into the BFF's Shorts Program for 2011.

Stay tuned for more information regarding the film's premiere in New York City this June... as well as all the other cities it will be playing in!

But really now, how could they say no to a dvd submission with fringe?! Thanks BFF!

To see the trailer for FABRIC BIKE go here!