Duet for One

Last week I went to see the United Players of Vancouver's production of Duet for One.

It has been running since January 20th, and the audience was fully packed! Just another sign that people in Vancouver are thirsty for theatre! Additional seating has been set up for this production as well, with audience members literally spilling onto the set.

This two person play centers around a violinist who has lost her ability to play due to MS, and we find her wheelchair-bound in her therapist's office trying to come to terms with her new life. Alison Raine sparkles as the reluctant patient, unwilling to deal with how she truly feels, while her shrink prods and pokes at her to get her to open up. We drown in uncomfortable silences as we wait for the therapy to evolve, and are treated to violin music and famous quotes that flash onto the wall during scene changes.

With Raine getting most of the lines, the play ultimately becomes a one-woman show as her character is the one who is going through the catharsis, with a side of questioning and advice from her therapist, played by a strong-but-silent Graham Bullen. Director John Murphy hopes that "audiences will leave the theatre equipped with a deeper understanding of the life of an artist."

Duet For One plays Thursday through Sunday at the Jericho Arts Centre, until February 12. Tickets are $16-$20. More info here.

Postcards: Narnia

Inspired by Inside Vancouver's Photo Essays, Vancouver Is Awesome's Unplugged Flickr Pickr, and Miss604's Flickr Pool, I hereby bring you a new section of my blog called Postcards From Vancouver.

Basically, the same idea. Snapshots of Vancouver to share with the world! If you've got some, send them in. Maybe I ought to follow in my predecessor's footsteps and set up a Flickr account for this too? Anyhow, I don't have a fancy camera or anything, but maybe you do and you want to share some of your talent with everyone? Feel free to send them my way with a photo credit!

I'll think about doing the Flickr group thing, but right now I'll start things off with a photo I took in Mount Pleasant last summer.

Madonna Returns to Vancouver - Sept 29

Billboard has just reported that Madonna will be touring later this year, and one of those dates includes our lovely town of Vancouver!!!

The last time she was here was for the Sticky and Sweet Tour, played at BC Place. This time around, she's hitting up Rogers Arena on September 29th. The following date is Oct 2 in Seattle, so let's hope she adds a few extra dates on to her Vancouver stop!! Tickets go on sale Feb 13!



Welcome back, Madonna!!!

George C. Reifel Bird Sanctuary

I've lived here in Vancouver pretty much all my life, and yet it was only recently that I had heard about the George C. Reifel Bird Sanctuary, located a mere 30 minute drive away. Apparently, it has been around since the 1960s!

Now that I know about it, I can't stop going. And whenever a visitor comes to Vancouver, this is one of the Must See places I'll be taking them to!

Last November, some friends and I went to check it out and for an admission price of $5, we ventured into this protected area that was full of marshes, wetlands, and birds! At the time, the Snow Geese were the main attraction, and we witnessed some flying through the sky, but it wasn't till we were leaving that I spotted the field where hundreds of them were all gathered, trying to stay warm from the day's wind storm that had hit the Lower Mainland.

Can you see that sea of white? Yep, those are all snow geese.

We also saw lots and lots of ducks, from the lustrous Mallards to a black duck called an "American Coot." Upon a second visit just last month, I saw another variety of duck - the Wood Duck.

The second time I visited, the place was full of these Sandhill Cranes. At first we weren't sure what they were, because they would just be hanging about on the path and they were the size of humans!

It was crazy windy that first day I went, with branches flying all over the place, trees falling over, and we had climbed a tower to get up onto an observation deck, only to fear for our lives that we'd be blown over the edge!

On my second visit, I was smart enough to follow the hard-core bird watchers who were there and wound up spying on a hawk perched on top of a giant tree.

It's the perfect place to be outdoors and appreciate the wonders of nature right in our own backyard.

So serene. So peaceful.

I can't wait to bring other folks out here whether they be fellow Vancouverites, or out of town visitors! A highly recommended thing to do and see if you're in Vancouver!

Madonna's Superbowl Halftime Show 2012

Did you watch Madonna's Superbowl Halftime Show?

It was pretty fun, yes?! That's what we like here on this blog! FUN!

Here it is in case you missed it! Hope you all had a FUN weekend!!

Over the Ropes and Into the Streets!

Last night's ECCW (Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling) event was fantastic!

"It was the best $15 I've spent in a long time!" my friend Iris proclaimed, after witnessing wrestlers fly over the ropes and into the crowd, then taking the brawl outside into the streets of Kitsilano! The people driving by on West 4th were probably wondering what the heck was going on when they saw the large crowd streaming out of the Russian Community Centre to see J-Sin Sullivan take on Bishop.

My camera is not the best, but here are some photos from last night's event!

Scotty Mac showing off his abs and more. "It's a half-shirt, dumbass!" he yelled at an audience member who was heckling him.

Artemis Spencer, victorious.

Crowd favourite, KC Spinelli, greets her adoring fans.

The Bollywood Lions take centre stage.

Ravenous Randy!!! We love you!!

Nicole Matthews of The Riot celebrating her and Ravenous Randy's win over the Bollywood Lions!

My camera could not keep up with the action! Here's Bishop flying over the top rope and into the crowd, during the Main Event - an Extreme Lumberjack Match!

"To the street! To the street!" the crowd chanted, as the wrestlers obliged, bringing the action out onto West 4th Avenue! Even last night's fog could not hide the excitement and magic that was taking place, thanks to ECCW!

Thank you ECCW for a truly awesome experience! Their next event takes place at Bridgeview Hall in Surrey on Feb 24, but if that's too far for you Vancouverites to get to, no need to worry! The exciting finish to the Pacific Cup tournament will take place back in Vancouver at the Russian Community Centre on Feb 25!! See you there!

The Next Britney Spears?

I've been listening to Victoria Duffield's song Shut Up and Dance over the past few weeks over and over, non stop. I love it!!! It's fun to belt it out while driving in the car, it's fun to walk down the street to while it blares in my ear phones.... Have you heard it? She's from Abbotsford, BC, which is close enough to Vancouver to claim her as our own, yes?



She totally reminds me of a young Britney Spears. The solid dancing (back when Britney danced) and the sultry vocals are reminiscent of early Spears. And it's just such a catchy dance tune! Congratulations to Victoria on having this single getting certified platinum the other day!

She's got a Valnetine's Day gift for all of us too! Her next single Feel, drops on Feb 14th! Here's a teaser! We wish her lots of success with it, and from this preview, it sounds like another hit on her hands!