The Arts Club Theatre Company is presenting the Tony-award winning musical Hairspray from May 12 until July 10, 2011.
Adam Charles and Jennie Neumann in the Arts Club’s production of Hairspray.
Photo by David Cooper.
Amidst the doo-wop and sock-hops of ‘60s Baltimore, pleasantly plump Tracy Turnblad won’t let popular Amber Von Tussle squash her dream of dancing on a local TV teen variety show. Can a girl with big ideas (and really big hair!) change the world…and win the heart of dreamy Link Larkin? Welcome to the ‘60s!
Director Bill Millerd says Jay Brazea was born to play the role of Tracy’s mom Edna (a female role typically played by an actor in drag) and it’s a just really fun show – the type that will leave you smiling. Tickets for the production at the Stanley Theatre are available now, starting at $29.
I have two tickets to give away as well, here’s how you can enter to win:
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I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 10:00am on Monday, May 16th.
Update The winner is Victoria!
Mother’s Day is coming up Sunday, May 8, 2011 and if you would like to treat that mom in your life to something special, there’s no shortage of activities and events around town.
Tourism Vancouver has a great “Top 10” list on their blog including deals from their Tourist in Your Own Town campaign and their top picks for spa treatments.
Here are just a few more suggestions for Sunday:
For green-thumbed mothers, bring your boots and gloves to help out at Derby Reach Park in Langley. They’re looking for volunteers to help pull invasive plants from the park between 1:00pm and 4:00pm.
Pacific Spirit Regional Park is hosting a mystery-solving scavenger hunt for kids (and moms). Meet at the 16th avenue and Sasamat entrance to the park at 1:00pm to join in for free on “Critter Capers – Case of More Missing Berries“.
One of our favourite Sea to Sky attractions, the Britannia Mine Museum, is hosting “Take Tea with Mom” on Sunday at 12:00pm. Cost is $5 in advance or $6 if you drop-in on Sunday. Enjoy afternoon tea with scones and jam followed by a visit to the museum, a walk on the boardwalk, and browse the museum’s gemstone collection.
If your mom likes to shop her heart out take her to Yaletown where they’re hosting a full week of retail-related events. Mother’s Day Week has the world’s first neighbourhood Groupon deals and you can enter her to win $5,000 grand prize Yaletown experience.
Explore the historic Stewart Farm in South Surrey and check out their “Mothers of Invention” exhibit. It’s a celebration of the ingenuity and innovation of women and Sunday will be the last day. The farm will be open for tours and the exhibit from 12:00pm until 4:00pm.
Brunch is a tradition in many families and the Open Table restaurant reservation service has a full list of local eateries and cafes serving up sweet deals on Sunday. A few highlights are the Mother’s Day Signature Afternoon Tea Service at Urban Tea Merchants or r.tl (Regional Tasting Lounge)’s prime rib dinner.
The Pan Pacific is going all-out for brunch from dim sum and sushi to salmon and omelettes. The will also have a Kidz Zone filled with activities to keep the young ones busy. $2 from every Mother’s Day Brunch will be donated to the BC Children’s Hospital.
Weather-permitting (or if you enjoy a good stroll in the rain) you can head out and enjoy a Metro Vancouver Park with loved ones.
While it’s not really an event, you can show a local mom blogger that you care by voting for her in the Vancouver Mom “Favourite Vancouver Mom Blogger” competition. They listed their top 30 picks and now you can vote on your favourites. Moms that don’t blog can hopefully discover some new daily reads from the list of finalists. The winner will be announced on Sunday.
Moms are precious and even if time, travel, or life prevents you from meeting up this Sunday, sometimes just touching base with a note, a call, even an email, can let them know you care – any day of the year. A very happy early Mother’s Day to all of the wonderful moms in my life.
The following is a guest post contributed by Amber Strocel from TheV3H.com and Strocel.com.
The Coquitlam Farmers Market is kicking off its 15th season this Sunday, May 8 from 9:00am-1:00pm. It’s the second oldest market in the region, opening just one year after the Vancouver market at Trout Lake. It happens every Sunday, rain or shine, until October 30 in the Dogwood Pavilion parking lot at Winslow and Poirier in Coquitlam [map].
This year the market is also opening a new Friday market at Coquitlam’s Spirit Square [map]. It will run weekly from July 8-September 16, from 4:00-8:00pm. The market also runs a pocket market on Wednesdays from 11:00am-5:00pm at SFU starting May 11 and continuing until the end of October.
While I am a long-time market patron, I decided I wanted to learn a little more, so I got in touch with the market’s Executive Director Tabitha McLoughlin. She told me it all started in 1996 when current market Chair Terri Evans created a proposal as part of a class project at SFU. Once the class was over she decided to present the proposal to the City of Coquitlam, and received their approval. At first there were only a few food vendors, and the market only ran for 12 weeks in the summer. But over time it grew, and today the market operates year-round with its winter market, and more than 40 vendors attend each week.
McLoughlin said that the farmers market society has become part of a regional food system, focused on local and sustainable food. It’s also part of the larger community of farmers markets as part of the BC Association of Farmers Markets. The growth of the Coquitlam market reflects a larger trend across the province – over the past four years the association has grown from 60-70 markets to almost 100, with more starting all the time.
So, what’s all the fuss about? Locally produced food has a lower carbon footprint than food shipped halfway around the world. Buying local also contributes to the province’s economy, by supporting farmers, food producers and artisans right in our own backyard. When you shop at the market you are supporting a secure and sustainable local food system. You’re also able to talk to the people who grow or prepare your food, and ask them questions about how your food was handled.
McLoughlin told me that during the recession the market performed very well. As people started cooking more at home, she feels they naturally became more interested in where their food comes from. There’s also a growing consumer awareness, thanks to programs like the 100 Mile Challenge and books like The 100 Mile Diet. As local eating pervades our cultural consciousness, farmers markets gain traction.
The Coquitlam market’s tagline is “Make, Bake or Grow”, and that’s reflected in the vendors. Everyone is selling something that they have grown, produced, or crafted themselves. There are approximately equal numbers of farmers and prepared food vendors each week, and a smaller numbers of artisans selling handcrafts. This is definitely not a craft fair, but you can find some fabulous soaps, hand-dyed yarn or jewelry.
When you go to the market bring cash, because most vendors don’t accept other forms of payment. Bring your reusable bags and give yourself some time to explore. Shopping at a farmers market isn’t about getting in and out as quickly as possible, it’s about experiencing local food, chatting with farmers and meeting your neighbours. There’s live music, children’s activities and special events throughout the season.
McLoughlin told me that they’re cooking up something special to celebrate the 15th season, but they’re not ready to make any announcements yet, so you’ll just have to stay tuned. In the meantime, head down to the market and see what our region is producing!
This post was written by Amber Strocel, who contributes to TheV3H.com, a blog that highlights news and events in and around Port Moody, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. You can also catch up with Amber’s musings on life and parenting at Strocel.com, or find out about her online class on living with intention at Crafting my Life.
On this day in 1989 SFU opened a downtown campus in the old David Spencer’s Department Store building on West Hastings between Seymour and Richards.
1930’s – Spencer’s Department Store. Archives item# CVA 1495-32
Built in 1908 and restructured by 1925, the Spencer’s stores in BC were bought up by Eatons in 1948 and most were re-branded.
1926 – Spencer’s Department Store. Archives item# CVA 1495-5. Photographer: Leonard Frank
In 1973 the adjacent buildings were demolished to make room for the Harbour Centre development and Sears moved into the Spencer’s space for the next dozen years or so.
SFU Public Affairs & Media Relations
From VancouverHistory.ca on the 1989 opening of SFU Harbour Centre: “It was clear there was need for a downtown university centre…”
“…This unique campus was originally financed through private sector funding and designed to meet another major challenge: mid-career education in the emerging global, knowledge-based economy.
I have given many talks in classrooms within this building and today I’m attending the WordCamp Developers conference.
With auditoriums, workspaces, computer labs and more, you’d hardly know that cans of biscuits, Lux soap, neck-ties and lingerie were once sold in this space.
The history that was in this space is continues to be made through education and dialogue in the heart of the city.
The 15th annual explorASIAN Festival is happening around Vancouver in celebration of May being Asian Heritage Month. There are dozens of activities and event happening around Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, and various communities around the province over the next few weeks.
Walk-a-thon for Japan Relief
When: Saturday, May 7, 2011 starting at 10:00am
Where: Burnaby Lake Sports Complex East Clubhouse (3760 Sperling Ave)
Fee: $10 individual, $20 family
Event website Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
