Pi Theatre, as part of its Provocateurs Series, presents Black Space Jam – an evening of multidisciplinary art – on Friday, March 3, 2023 at the Biltmore Cabaret. This showcase intentionally amplifies, celebrates, and centres Black creatives and the Black Experience.
Black Space Jam at the Biltmore
When: March 3, 2023 at 8:00pm (doors at 7:00pm)
Where: The Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward Ave, Vancouver)
Produced by Black Space Media/Afro Van Connect, Black Space Jam (“BSJ”) is a live performance showcase that provides local and international artists of African descent a platform to share and promote their artwork.
BSJ was created to enhance the visibility of youth of African descent within the local arts and culture community. This platform was made by artists for artists to create opportunities for skill cultivation and brand promotion.
Lineup
The theme of the event is cultural renaissance, and the night will include dance, spoken word, stand-up comedy, music and a live DJ. Each artist will perform 20 minute sets from 8:00pm to 11:00pm with time between sets for artists, vendors, and audience members to mingle with one another.
Enjoy performances from: Shayna Jones (spoken word/poetry), DJ Bazenga (music), Brotha Jason (dance), Mufaro Mbudzi (stand-up comedy), ebonEmpress (music), KOR (music).
Various culturally relevant vendors will also be on site, selling their locally made goods, including: Reward Your Skin-Soap Co., Kula Kitchen, Sleepless Mindz Apparel, Mark “The Real MG Caricature Artist”, Nyarai Tawengwa.
Update – Contest!
I have a pair of tickets to give away for the event! Here’s how you can enter to win:
ATLAS steak + fish presents a luxe, shared three-course experience this Valentine’s Day, which you can enter to win from Miss604:
Valentine’s Dining Experience at ATLAS
The Valentine’s menu is available February 10-14, 2023 at the Langley and Burnaby ATLAS steak + fish locations in addition to the a la carte dinner menu. The Kamloops location will only have the Valentine’s menu available on February 10-11 and the 14th. Reserve online today to save your place.
Three Course Menu
ATLAS creates a show-stopping taste experience by combining the finest ingredients with expert cooking and engaging table-side service. The cornerstone of the menu, the Josper oven is a mesquite coal-powered oven that functions as a smoker, oven and broiler, and is what gives the dishes at ATLAS their signature smoky taste.
Guest will be able to select an option to start, to share, and to finish their three-course meal:
TO START – Salads Prepared Tableside for Two Caesar Salad – 32 heart of romaine, parmigiano-reggiano, bacon, traditional dressing
I’m giving this experience away to a lucky winner and their guest who will be able to book a dining time either February 12 or 13 at the Burnaby or Langley ATLAS location. Follow ATLAS (Facebook / Instagram) and Miss604 (Facebook / Instagram) and complete the following to enter to win:
The Vancouver Sun Run presented by Kal Tire, one of Canada’s largest road races, is set to take place on April 16, 2023. This scenic 10km run and walk through the streets of Vancouver attracts thousands of participants from across the country every year.
Early bird registration is open until midnight January 31, 2023. Participants who register before this date will save $10 off the Individual 10k and $5 on the Shaw Mini Sun Run 2.5k regular registration fee. The event is open to runners and walkers of all ages and abilities.
Long-standing sponsor, Shaw Communications will return to support both the Shaw Team Division and Shaw Mini Sun Run 2.5k. OASIS returns to support the OASIS Youth Team Challenge, partners Pacific Blue Cross will continue their support of the walking division ‘Walk with Pacific Blue Cross’, and new partner Subaru joins the event as the official automotive partner and sponsor of the Volunteer Crew program. Runners will once again be able to participate in the Virtual Vancouver Sun Run powered by Fresh Prep.
On track to be the largest running event in the country, the Vancouver Sun Run draws between 20,000 and 40,000 participants of all ages each year, and its charitable efforts have raised more than 3.3 million dollars since its inception. A new event sponsor this year, Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is supporting the Vancouver Sun Run Charity program which encourages registrants to raise funds for local charities.
The BC Cancer Foundation, Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver, Charlford House Society for Women, BC Epilepsy Society, Ronald McDonald House BC & Yukon, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Raise-a-Reader, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, and Family Services of Greater Vancouver will be the official beneficiaries of the 2023 event.
2023 Registration Fees until January 31
Individual 10K
$54 plus fees and GST
Shaw Mini Sun Run 2.5K
$25 plus fees and GST (18 years and under)$40 plus fees and GST (19 years and older)
Virtual 10K powered by Fresh Prep
$30 (plus fees and GST)
Oasis Youth Team Challenge
$25 plus fees and GST (18 years and under)$40 plus fees and GST (19 years and older)
Shaw Team Division
$54 plus fees and GST
About the Vancouver Sun Run
The Vancouver Sun Run is Canada’s largest 10km road race and the 3rd largest timed 10km in North America. The Vancouver Sun Run is open to international elite competitors, recreational runners, joggers and walkers, wheelchair competitors, teams, schools, and youth.
The Virtual Sun Run and 2.5K Shaw Mini Sun Run will be taking place from Friday, April 14th until the in-person Race date of Sunday, April 16th.
The #CHVCatchUp is a monthly series featuring the latest updates and news from Covenant House Vancouver (“CHV”). Miss604 is proud to be the Official Blog Partner of CHV. This month’s post has been written by Jason Bosher.
What is Sleep Out: Champions Edition?
Sleep Out: Champions Edition is a fundraising initiative for anyone who would like to actively support vulnerable youth. On Thursday, February 16, 2023, people across the Lower Mainland, and beyond, will give up their beds for one night, to provide many nights of safety and support for youth.
Why Sleep Out: Champions Edition Is Important
This event will raise funds to support the mental health and addiction programs at CHV.
There are approximately 500 – 1,000 young people without a safe place to sleep every night in Metro Vancouver. Many of them experience mental health concerns that are often left undiagnosed, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder. Often these youth cope by turning to substance use.
Covenant House Vancouver offers young people an opportunity to address any counselling and psychiatric needs they may have through social workers and Registered Clinical Counsellors. Through a trusting, confidential relationship, the youth and their clinical counsellor will determine what type of support is best for them.
About the Sleep Out Event
The event will take place in person at CHV’s 1280 Seymour St. location. Many participants who have experienced Sleep Out in person have said that it is life changing.
The evening will begin with an introduction to Covenant House Vancouver, followed by tours of the new building. Participants will then hear stories shared by youth at Covenant House, about their journeys and experiences. After that impactful experience, participants will receive their cardboard and sleeping bags and will head out to the alley to prepare for their night on the street.
Each participant will be provided with a list of their donors and are encouraged to write these names on their cardboard as a way of expressing their gratitude for the support. Participants may also share why they are sleeping out.
In the morning, participants gather and share their experiences during a time of reflection. It can be an emotional time as participants are truly moved by their overnight experiences.
For those who cannot be there in person, CHV is offering a virtual option. Remote participants will experience engaging programming and meaningful conversations, including the stories shared by youth and the morning reflections. Virtual participants are also able to share their experiences.
Anyone Can be a Champion
Join Covenant House Vancouver and give up your bed for one night to support young people facing homelessness.
Thursday, February 16, 2023 1280 Seymour St. 7:00pm to 7:00am
The Cultch presents Urban Ink & Raven Theatre’s world premiere of Corey Payette’s Starwalker, February 16 to March 5, 2023, at the York Theatre. The story follows Starwalker, an Indigi-Queer Two-Spirit drag queen learning the ropes of the East Van Drag community.
Starwalker a new musical written and directed by Corey Payette. An Urban Ink _ Raven Theatre co-production in association with The Musical Stage Co. Actor Dillan Chiblow; Art Direction Andrea Tetrault; Photo by Matt B
Corey Payette’s Starwalker
Where: York Theatre (639 Commercial Dr, Vancouver)
When: February 16 to March 5, 2023
Tickets: From $25. On sale now through The Cultch’s Box Office
When Starwalker is introduced to Drag at the House of Borealis, their whole world changes, introducing them to a home they never knew they needed, creating a new persona that blends their grounded Indigenous cultural spirit with drag performance, resulting in an empowering and celebratory experience that only tearing down the patriarchy can provide.
Award-winning interdisciplinary storyteller, writer, composer, and director Corey Payette has gained acclaim for his large-scale contemporary musicals, which bring his Indigenous perspective to mainstream spaces—including Children of God, and Les Filles du Roi (which Payette co-wrote with Julie McIsaac). Both powerful musicals had their premieres at The Cultch’s York Theatre, and have toured extensively, receiving accolades wherever they go.
In 2021, Payette received the inaugural BC Reconciliation Award for his work and commitment to inspiring and making lasting change to reconciliation through the arts. His highly acclaimed musical production, Children of God, has brought conversations on truth and reconciliation to audiences throughout Canada.
Starwalker was commissioned and developed by The Musical Stage Company (Toronto). Their blank canvas offer gave Payette the freedom to explore a side of himself that he hasn’t spent as much time within his other work. It allowed him to express the joy he finds in his Two-Spirit and queer identity.
“I really wanted to look at uplifting some of these voices in a way that was joyous and wasn’t tied to their trauma,” says Payette. “While the characters have experienced hardship, the show is actually about how they are working their way through those issues to find joy, to find love, and to find family and home.”
Starwalker will share a familiarity of style and scope with Payette’s past work, but brings to life a more modern story, presented with a contemporary score combining pop/rock music, with pulsing drums, and powerful vocals from some of Vancouver’s most talented.
An incredible cast—Dillan Chiblow (known as Tommy/Tom in Children of God), Stewart Adam McKensy (known for his portrayal of Lola in Kinky Boots), and Jeffrey Follis (Drag Queen Urupa)—bring Starwalker’s story to life with choreography from Ralph Escamillan, and musical direction from Sean Bayntun.
