Direct from Broadway comes Newsies, the smash-hit, crowd-pleasing new musical from Disney and winner of the 2012 Tony Awards® for Best Score and Best Choreography. Newsies will be in Vancouver from July 5th to 10th at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

Filled with one heart-pounding number after another, Newsies is a high-energy explosion of song and dance you just don’t want to miss. Based on true events, it tells the captivating story of a band of underdogs who become unlikely heroes when they stand up to the most powerful men in New York. It’s a rousing tale about fighting for what’s right… and staying true to who you are.

Pre-Sale Code for Disney’s Newsies in Vancouver

If you would like to secure your tickets early, I have a pre-sale code that is valid May 6th to 8th only. Use this link and the code: 4JACK to make your purchase. The pre-sale will be live as of 10:00am on Friday, May 6, 2016.

ALL SALES FINAL. No exchanges or refunds. Blackout dates and other restrictions may apply. Standard Ticketmaster service fees apply to online or phone orders. Dates, times, prices, and cast subject to change without notice. Offer may be revoked without notice. Limit 9 tickets per person per 7 day period. All prices are in CAD and include a $3.00 CIF. Tickets must be purchased by May 8, 2016.

Disney’s Newsies is a part of Broadway Across Canada’s 2016-2017 season in Vancouver that also includes The Book of Mormon, Kinky Boots, and Cinderella. Follow Broadway Across Canada on Twitter and Facebook for more information about their shows coming to Vancouver in 2015-2016.

Britannia Mine Museum is taking part in BC Mining Week by hosting a Family Fun Day on Saturday, May 14th. This special event is focused on recognizing the contributions of modern mining to British Columbians.

Family Fun Day at Britannia Mine Museum

At Family Fun Day, visitors of all ages can enjoy various entertaining activities from several Earth Science organizations including:

• Interactive mineral workshops from MineralsEd like make your own fossil imprints
• Explore the world of geoscience with hands-on activities from Below BC
• Science based water activities exploring the unique properties of H2O
• Live performances by the Sansho Daiko Japanese Drummers
• Climb aboard a Finning loader
• Face painting, a costume photo booth, and cookie mining
• Hang out in the Britannia Beach Volunteer Fire Department fire truck

The Museum will also debut its new 2016 summer exhibit, Water: Beneath the Surface, which examines the complex world of H2O. The exhibit includes fun, interactive displays and experiments exploring the hidden talent of water, how it shapes the land around us, and the role it plays in creating some of the most extreme and fascinating environments on our planet.

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

The Britannia Mine Museum provides unique and memorable experiences that engage visitors of all ages. Enjoy fun exhibits and crowd favourites like the underground mine train, the historic 20-storey concentrator mill and gold panning, and learn about Britannia’s history as one of the largest copper mines in the British Commonwealth in the 1930s.

Win a Family Pack of Tickets

The Britannia Mine Museum has an important role in educating the public about the contributions of mining and minerals to society, the 112-year history of the storied Britannia Beach community and the ideas and practices of environmental renewal and sustainability.

Check it out for yourself! Enter to win a family pack of 5 tickets (2 adults and 3 kids). Here’s how:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Sunday, May 8, 2016. Follow Britannia Mine Museum on Facebook and Twitter for more information about this iconic attraction just up the Sea to Sky. It is open seven days a week from 9:00am to 5:00pm with guided tours throughout the day (last tour at 3:00pm).

The contest winner can use their passes on Family Fun Day, or another time, as they will be valid for one visit until the end of 2016.

BC Mining Week takes place May 8-14, 2016 with events taking place all over British Columbia, recognizing and celebrating the importance of mining as one of BC’s largest and oldest industries.

Update The winner is Aimee!

Arts Umbrella has announced its 2016 Theatre and Music Expressions Festival, an annual showcase celebrating the boundless creativity of young talent in the organization’s pre-professional theatre program, running from May 11 to 22, 2016, at Waterfront Theatre.

The Drowsy Chaperone. Image by Tim Matheson

Expressions Festival

With an expanded festival run of two weeks this year, five wonderfully varied productions highlight the talents of Canada’s next generation of theatre artists, including beloved favourites such as The Drowsy Chaperone and Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, and student-created originals such as Dangers of a Total War.

To hone their work, student performers have toured the productions in schools across the Lower Mainland, and worked with professional directors and designers. Both innovative and inspiring, the Expressions Festival enables these driven youths to take pride in their accomplishments by sharing their vision and ability with the community.

Highlights

Dangers of a Total War
Performed by the Laboratory Theatre Troupe
May 12, 21
A powerful, original creation by the Laboratory Theatre Troupe students, Dangers of a Total War explores the hardships and tribulations of children evacuated from England to Canada during World War Two. Taking inspiration from a letter sent by King George to every child of the United Kingdom, the play demonstrates how war touched everyone in the country – and the long-lasting consequences for even its most innocent citizens.

The Drowsy Chaperone
Performed by the Musical Theatre Troupe
May 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22
The charming and multi award-winning The Drowsy Chaperone wryly parodies musical comedies of the 1920s with its “musical within a comedy.” When an antisocial, dedicated theatre fan plays his favourite record, the characters come to life on stage to perform in front of his very eyes. With music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, and book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, the production is a toe-tapping, knee-slapping whirlwind of talent.

Julius Caesar
Performed by the Senior Theatre Troupe
May 12, 14, 19, 21, 22
History repeats itself: even the well-documented assassination of Julius Caesar and Rome’s ensuing war feels like an echo of 21st century subterfuge and battle. Arts Umbrella’s Senior Theatre Troupe offers a modern perspective on Shakespeare’s classic, Julius Caesar, with dramatic explorations of political game playing.

Story Stew: A Fairy Tale Revue
Performed by the Junior Theatre Troupe
May 14, 19, 22
What if the children of the little old woman who lived in a shoe were actually fairy tale characters, such as Jack, Jill, Little Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks? Story Stew by Stacey Lane interweaves familiar folk tales on a delightful romp through Enchanted Forest locations, such as the candy house and magic beanstalk. The Junior Theatre Troupe playfully shares a story of heroic adventure with plenty of twists and turns.

Theatre and Music Showcase
Performed by Theatre Intensive Program students
May 14 and 15 (various times)
One of the highlights of the season, the Theatre and Music Showcase reveals the honed, dynamic talent of the Theatre Intensive Program students through a kaleidoscope of short musical and theatre performances across a range of genres.

The Expressions Festival will run from May 11 to 22, 2016 at the Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright St, Granville Island) with tickets starting at $10.

The Arts Umbrella Pre-Professional Program includes four troupes – Junior, Senior, Laboratory and Musical Theatre – and a Young Directors Program, who train for a minimum of six hours per week throughout the year. Students work with industry professionals to develop both on- and off-stage skills, resulting in many alumni working as professional actors around the world. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

Enter to Win Tickets

I have a a family four-pack of tickets to give away to The Drowsy Chaperone on Friday, May 13, at 7:00pm. Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Friday, May 6, 2016.

Update The winner is Kiema!

Contributed by Steffani Cameron of FullNomad.com, follow her on Instagram @snarkysteff.

I had the good fortune to live in Victoria for 3.5 years, so when I had the opportunity to enjoy some promotional time in Victoria on behalf of both Tourism Victoria and Miss604.com, I leapt at it.

One of two places I stayed at, the Magnolia Hotel, gave me much-needed rest and relaxation. The suites are designed to completely pamper you. The hotel being in an older building means the rooms are perfectly sized, not large or spacious, but just right for a table, desk, some chairs, and most importantly, wonderfully indulgent beds. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

Join Vancouver Craft Beer Week (“VCBW”) for 10 days of the finest ales, tastiest lagers, great food, and the biggest beer festival Western Canada has ever seen! This year VCBW, running May 27th to June 5th, is featuring 12 amazing music acts ready to kick the summer off with a bang. Tickets to all events are extremely limited so get yours now before they’re all gone.

Vancouver Craft Beer Week

Featured Events

May 27, 2016 – VCBW Opening Night – Roundhouse Arts Centre
May 28, 2016 – Collaboration Fest – Big Rock Urban Brewery & Eatery
May 29, 2016 – Best of BC – Central City on Beatty St.
May 30, 2016 – Biercraft Belgium Showcase – Biercraft Bistro
May 31, 2016 – Barleywood Squares – The Cobalt
June 1, 2016 – Forbidden Fruit – Devil’s Elbow Ale & Smokehouse
June 2, 2016 – Ciderhouse Rules – Lamplighter Public House
June 3 to 5, 2016 – VCBW Beer Festival – PNE Centre Grounds

VCBW Beer Festival

VCBW is hosting over 100 breweries and cideries across North America, pouring over 400 craft beers during the finale festival. This will include a US Brewers Association section filled with craft beers never before seen in Canada, and three new music stages. Partnering with CFOX, there will be 12 musical acts on stage throughout the three days of the festival.

VCBW Brew

The 7th annual VCBW collaboration brew is an Oceania inspired Saison, Brewed at Steel + Oak. Steel + Oak and Strange Fellows designed the brew, along with the help of 26 other BC breweries. It includes wild harvested Tasmanian Pepperberries, New Zealand hop varietals, fresh cracked pepper, blackberry, currant, raspberry and a hint of zesty citrus. Proceeds from the collaboration brew are going to Music Heals, VCBW’s 2016 charity partner.

Donnelly Passport

Drink select New Belgium beers at Donnelly Group pubs from May 15th to June 15th to fill your passport with stamps. Grab passports from any Donnelly Group pub, on the PNE festival grounds or in the June edition of The Growler. Submit your passport at any of the pubs for your chance to win. Every stamp is worth five entries. You could win a trip to New Belgium Brewing’s Tour de Fat or one of five custom cruiser bikes.

VCBW Tickets

Individual event tickets are on sale now. Note: Many of the events sell out each year!

Festival tickets are now on sale as well, for $30-$95 with individual day or full weekend passes available. Your festival ticket includes entry to the festival and your taster mug. All beer and cider samples are additional. All samples are 4oz and cost 1 token, tokens are $1.50 each.

Follow Vancouver Craft Beer Week on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more information.