Theatre Thursday: Twenty Something Theatre

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I am proud to once again be the Social Media Sponsor of the Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards (the Jessies) and as such, I will be featuring a local theatre company every Thursday.

Jessie Awards 2012

The Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards are an annual awards ceremony and party produced by the Jessie Richardson Theatre Award Society to celebrate and promote the outstanding achievements of the Vancouver Professional Theatre Community. The Awards have been presented since 1982, originally by the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance, taken over in 1997 by the newly formed Society. Over 35 statues are awarded each year to outstanding theatre companies and artists.

These profiles contain basic information about each company, as supplied by their team, and a list of their upcoming productions that you can check out in the coming season. Today’s feature company is: Twenty Something Theatre:

Bomb-itty of Errors
Niko Koupantsis, Jameson Parker, David Kaye & Brian Cochrane. The Bomb-itty of Errors. Photography by Candace Albach.

Twenty Something Theatre

Date Established: 2006
First Play ProducedThis is Our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan
Total number of plays/events produced: 12 productions over 7 seasons
Founder and Artistic Producer: Sabrina Evertt
Artistic Director: Sabrina Evertt
Associate Artistic Producer: Brian Cochrane

Mission Statement

Twenty Something Theatre is a Vancouver based award-winning, independent theatre company dedicated to producing contemporary theatre that is provocative, edgy and relevant to today’s young people. 

Just Played

World Premiere of Us & Everything We Own by Sean Minogue

Special Moment for the Company

The company’s co-production of the Jessie award-winning The Bomb-itty of Errors will be re-mounted as part of the Arts Club Theatre’s upcoming 50th Anniversary.

Follow

Stay up to date on the latest from Twenty Something Theatre by following them on Facebook and Twitter.

Vancouver Heritage Foundation Bike Tours

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The Vancouver Heritage Foundation is putting a spin on their popular walking tours with guides Maurice Guibord and John Atkin by getting them up on two wheels to offer four new bike tours this summer.

Today in Vancouver: Parks and Recreation
Photo credit: [travelfox] on Flickr

Places That Matter Bike Tour
Guide: John Atkin
Date: Saturday, May 25, 2013 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Tickets: $20 + tax, available online
Tour: The tour starts at Canada Place and will travel through Vancouver’s bike lanes, across the Burrard Bridge, up into Fairview Heights, and curving back to Robson Square to explore the Places That Matter plaque project sites. Then you’ll stop halfway to join the Nellie Yip Quong House plaque presentation live.

Stanley Park
Guide: Maurice Guibord
Date: Saturdays June 15, July 20, and August 17, 2013 from 9:30am to 11:30am
Tickets: $20 + tax, available online
Tour: This ride ducks in from the busy city streets to explore the trails and history of Vancouver’s crown jewel, Stanley Park. Spokes Bicycle Rentals will be offering a discount on bike rentals for anyone attending one of these tours.

For more information about these bike tours and other Vancouver Heritage Foundation events, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

Claudia Alan AYA Sunglasses Giveaway

Comments 195 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Back in 2010 we acquired the best pairs of sunglasses we’ve ever owned. I am still wearing my Claudia Alan AYA sunglasses and although John managed to squash his during our recent trip to Austin, they were quickly replaced.

Sunglass by Corinne Hunt of Alert Bay, B.C.
John wearing the Brandon style sunglasses

Over the last three years John’s received so many compliments on the design of his sunglasses (thanks to Corinne Hunt‘s artwork) and aside from being comfortable, they look great.

Another bonus is that when you purchase AYA eyewear you’re not only supporting BC artists and designers but partial proceeds from the sale of all AYA eyewear and accessory items is donated to the ONEXONE First Nations nutritious breakfast programs.

The ONEXONE First Nations School Breakfast Program was developed in partnership with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and PepsiCo Canada with the goal of ensuring the availability of healthy food to all First Nations children in the school setting.

New pair of my favourite sunglasses
My Felicity sunglasses

There is a new collection of styles for 2013 so I scooped up Felicity (with a hummingbird design) while John stuck with Brendan (with a killer whale design), and thanks to AYA by Claudia Alan I’m giving away 3 pairs:

ayasunglassesBrendan:
This aviator frame was designed for men but we have both men and women loving it. The frame is a mid size fit and has a very comfortable fit. Brendan features a killer whale design that is beautifully frosted on the temples. Brendan is available in a silver, gun metal or brown. Impact and scratch resistant acrylic lenses – UV400.

Marilyn:
Aptly named, Marilyn is a glamorous over-size frame featuring quality polarized lenses and a Heron design along the arm. It is available in black, olive green demi, and burgundy demi.. Impact and scratch resistant acrylic lenses – UV400.

Tia:
Slightly cateye this feminine frame features crystal fronts in teal, red and black. A Frog design is enameled onto the metal temples in corresponding dramatic colours. Impact and scratch resistant acrylic lenses – UV400

These pairs start at $35, which is very affordable considering the artwork (Corinne Hunt was also the Co-Designer of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic medals), the cause, and their durability. You can purchase sunglasses, reading glasses, and frames online and every pair of sunglasses comes with a free microfibre case.

I have hard cases to give away with each of my contest pairs as well, here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment here naming which pair of AYA sunglasses is your favourite and/or which of the three pairs I have available you would like to win (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win a pair of @ClaudiaAlan sunglasses from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/kBtzQ

Follow Claudia Alan accessories on Twitter and Facebook for more information about styles and availability.

I will draw one winner at random from all entries on Friday, May 10, 2013 at 12:00pm. Winners will be assigned a style and colours are already pre-set based on my inventory, matching the image above.

Archive Photos of the Day: May Day

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It’s the first of May and over the last century Vancouverites have been celebrating May Day by crowning dancing around the Maypole, crowning a May Queen and ringing in springtime. To this day you can catch May Day festivals around the world and a few locally, like May Day Celebrations at Trimble Park in Point Grey where the Vancouver Morris Men performed this morning or New Westminster‘s May Day (that will be May 25th). New Westminster’s is actually one of the Commonwealth’s oldest, ongoing May Day celebrations.

May Day is also known as a day to honour workers. The following images from the Vancouver Public Library have all captured May Day throughout the city’s history:


1906 & 1907: May Day New Westminster. Archives item# CVA 677-759 & CVA 677-753.
Photographer: W.T. Cooksley.


1948: May Day ceremony in Burnaby’s Central Park. VPL# 80580 & 1950 May Day parade
on Marine Drive. VPL# 81314. Photographer: Artray.


1935: Men and women marching in May Day parade for unemployed during the Depression. VPL# 8814.


1936: May Day labour demonstration at the YMCA. VPL# 13320.


1930s: May Day Parade on Burrard at Hastings. VPL# 8090. Photographer: Leonard Frank & 1920s:
Stanley Park May Pole Dance. VPL # 30200. Dominion Photo Co.


1936: May Day celebrations at Hastings Park. Archive item# CVA 260-390 & CVA 260-392.

Allergy Relief House in Vancouver

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Spring blossoms and fresh-cut grass are signs that summer is on its way but you could say the same for itchy watery eyes, congestion, and runny noses if you’re an allergy sufferer. For the next few days you can find refuge in Pacific Centre in the Allergy Relief House.

This free, interactive experience is to help Canadians manage (and perhaps prevent) their allergy symptoms. The Allergy Relief House is setting up in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal this week and it features:

  • Top brands like Aerius®, Claritin® and hydraSense®
  • Three different environments to get you better acquainted with each brand
  • Profiling stations to help you better understand your specific symptoms
  • Interactive touch screens with presentations on allergy symptom management
  • An on-site allergy expert to answer your questions

You can stop by for free at Pacific Centre from 8:00am to 9:00pm today until Friday, then from 10:00am to 7:00pm on Saturday and Sunday this week.