What Do Coffee, Greenpeace and Jewelry Have in Common? Read on!

"Live like water, drink like tea". If you are a Kitsilano resident, you'll be hearing and seeing this phrase soon. Husband and wife team, Leah Yin and Timothy Sokol are both graduates from Emily Carr Institute of Art Media and Design and presently the owners of Vancouver's only store (part of a small BC franchise) called Wired Monk bistro in Kitsilano.

Besides providing tasty treats and beverages, the venue hosts private parties. This Thursday, December 6 beginning at 7:00pm, local designer Theresa Smed is launching Dotted Loop Design, an eco-conscious and fashion forward thinking jewelry company.

The ubiquitous coffee-shop-tization of Vancouver has been a growing trend for years. Unique to this store is Leah's emphasis on building community cohesion and reclaiming the Green roots instilled in the area more than 30 years ago.

"Greenpeace set its roots in Kitsilano in 1975. The first offices of the Green Party of BC were once located on Trafalgar and 6th. Even the Georgia Straight called 6th Ave. home, back in 1967 when rent cost a mere $30 a month and the Straight itself a dime.

Today, the neighbourhood continues to foster businesses, organizations, artists, and individuals with unique and influential visions, such as the David Suzuki Foundation and Voters Take Action for Climate Change".

Integral to community cohesion and development is the glue that music provides, again central to Leah's vision. Her aim is:

• To revitalize the live music on 4th Ave, Vancouver
• To support up-and-coming as well as professional artists/musicians
• To create a cozy and open gathering place for the Kits community

Wired Monk is located at 2610 W.4th.

PICTURE CREDIT: zipporah wilson