Canada Day / Long Weekend Tips

What have you got planned for this long weekend? There's tons going on, so here's a sampling if you're looking for ideas!

Vancouver International Jazz Festival is wrapping up this weekend! Check out some sweet music around town, including a number of free concerts!

Speaking of free concerts, Sam Roberts will be performing out in Cloverdale for Canada Day.



Hey, while you're out that way, why not stop by the Miss BC 2012 pageant? It's going on this Sunday at the Chief Sepass Theatre at the Langley Fine Arts high school. Celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, head on by to see who will be crowned this year's Miss BC!



The Waldorf Hotel is putting on a Canada Day Block Party, and they've invited you, along with loads of food trucks and musicians!



It's also time for the Steveston Salmon Festival, which my colleague tells me is a fantastic way to spend this weekend!



And if you're not happy until you see a parade and fireworks, then you are IN LUCK! On July 1st, 7pm, head to downtown Vancouver for the 4th Annual Canada Day Parade!

The 4th annual Canada Day Parade is presented by the Burrard Inlet Fireworks Society and the Department of Canadian Heritage. This free community event will be featuring dozens of entries and recognizes diversity, multiculturalism, freedom and the special bond that connect all Canadians.



Happy Canada Day everyone! Have a fantastic long weekend!

The Cactus Club Art Gallery

Wanna see some original artwork by Andy Warhol or Jean Michel Basquiat? Vancouver is littered with original pieces by these two, and other acclaimed artists. But you won't find them hanging on the walls of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Rather, you're gonna have to visit as many Cactus Club Cafes as you can, if you want to get a glimpse of this art collection.

Yes, you heard me. Order your burger and fries and take in some culture at most Cactus Club restaurants around town.

For instance, an original of Andy Warhol's "Sitting Bull" is situated over at the Cactus Club Lougheed/Schoolhouse location.



Head downtown to the Cactus Club at Bentall and you'll be treated to three Basquiat originals:

Cabeza:


Untitled (Ernok):


Jawbone of an Ass:


Basquiat's Untitled (Head) resides across the water at Cactus Club in Victoria.



But if Warhol is what you're after, you are in luck - although you're gonna be eating a lot of Cactus Club meals!!

Head to the Southpoint location in Surrey to see:

Kimiko


Annie Oakley


Howdy Doody


The Park Royal location is home to "Mother and Child" and "Martha Graham: The Kick"





The Yaletown restaurant offers up "Hans Christian Anderson" :



Byrne Road in Burnaby has the "Volkswagen Lemon":



West Broadway's location has "Martha Graham: Satyric Festival" :



And finally, downtown Vancouver's Bentall has "After The Party" and a few from the Camouflage series:





There are also other originals by artists like Tony Baker and Graham Gillmore. For more information, check out the Cactus Club Cafe website! And with Iron Chef Rob Feenie at the helm, you're in for good food in addition to the amazing artwork!!

And All That Jazz...

The TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival is now in full swing, kicking off just this past weekend and running all the way until July 1st!



For more information on events, check out their webpage!

Halloween in June?!

Who's going this weekend to the Halloween Ball at Five Sixty starring winner of Rupaul's Drag Race, Sharon Needles?!



Trick or Treat!!

We Had a Kiki !

Last night was the Scissor Sisters concert at the Commodore, and I wish I was still there, and I wish it didn't have to end.

There's not much to say other than it was EPIC in terms of how fun it was and the energy in the room! Thank you Scissor Sisters!! We had a Kiki to remember!!!

Vigil

I love going to the PAL theatre. Have you been? I've written about it before, but in case you haven't gone, it's located in a building that's housed by artists, where the penthouse floor has its own theatre! During intermission, there's a lovely rooftop garden to sit in. I imagined living there, amongst artists, actors, musicians, and the like. I thought about creativity gone wild, imagination bursting at the seams. Wouldn't that be fun?



So currently being mounted at the PAL theater is Morris Panych's Vigil, presented by Likeminded Theatre Co-Op. "Like Minded Theatre Co-Op is a group of mature artists, inspired by Western Gold Theatre Society, who have come together to do the work they are most passionate about."

I've been a fan of Panych's work since The Overcoat, so of course I had to go check out this play he wrote back in 1995. It's an intriguing concept - a nephew arrives at his aunt's house to help take care of her in her dying days. But is she really dying? And is he really there to help, or is he just waiting for his inheritance? Answers and a twist come in the second part of this dark comedy.

Vigil runs until June 24 at the PAL theatre. Tickets available online!

Shelter From The Storm

Just two days left to catch Shelter From The Storm, now playing at the Firehall Arts Theatre.



This is a serious drama about a draft dodger who leaves his service as a Marine in the Iraq war, and who flees to Canada for refuge. However, Canada is not as welcoming as one may think.

It's an ambitious production, that's for sure. The subject matter reflects events that are occurring mere steps away from the theatre, with real life US war resister Rodney Watson living his life in a one-bedroom suite in the First United Church off East Hastings.

It's a complex issue, and the play does its best to touch upon all sides of the story. The set itself is breathtaking, and the performances intense.

Only 3 performances left! Friday & Saturday night, and Saturday matinee, at the Firehall Arts Centre. And don't forget to check in with Tickets Tonight to see if they've got any half price tickets up for grabs!

Zulius and the Fire Snake

"posAbilities Stage Door program is presenting Zulius and the Fire Snake open to people of all ages! This Egyptian comedy tells the story of Zulius, a young man facing marriage arranged by his evil mother, to a less than attractive mountain girl, so that he may succeed his Father and become Pharaoh. However, Zullius has no interest in getting married and being Pharaoh, he wants to be a snake charmer! Along the journey, Zulius meets and falls in love with a mysterious stranger and hatches a plan to foil his mother’s idea. But the evil Queen has tricks of her own, and curses Zulius’ one true love. Will Zulius set out on a quest to find the one thing that will save her? Will the mountain girl find a good orthodontist? Will any of them survive the Death Mummy? You will have to come see the show to find out!

The Stage Door Theatre Troupe is a group of talented actors who have various developmental disabilities. In 2000, their groundbreaking and thought provoking productions gave them the fortune of being one in five organizations to receive a Jessie nomination at the Theatre BC Festival of Plays for “Outstanding Production in Festival Theatre.” Every year since, Stage Door has presented original productions that captivate its audience, and creates awareness about the various challenges and abilities of people with developmental disabilities."

Zulius and the Fire Snake runs June 5, 6, 7 & 12, 13, 14 - 7pm at Heritage Hall 3102 Main Street, Vancouver. Find them on Facebook for more info!