BC Living
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This week in Vancouver: celebrate Japanese culture at Sakura Days Japan Fair, experience a hard-knock life at Annie, and more
Burnaby has birthed some big names — Michael J. Fox, Carrie-Anne Moss and Michael Bublé, among them. But is there room at the top for one more? Could be! That’s why it might be worth taking a peek at the works of local up-and-coming artists at the Burnaby Artists’ Guild Show and Sale, held from April 4 to 6 at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. The exhibition, called “Fresh Paint,” showcases original pieces in a variety of styles and mediums, plus gives you a chance to chat up the artists, watch demos and maybe even win a raffle for an original painting, from 10 a.m. daily.
If we said there’s a Sakura Days Japan Fair taking place at Vancouver’s VanDusen Botanical Garden, your first question would likely be: what’s a sakura? Translation: cherry blossom — and, in Japan, it’s considered an iconic symbol of spring. On April 5 and 6, check out everything from sushi and sake, arts and crafts and cultural performances ranging from taiko drumming and martial arts to origami and calligraphy, for $10.50 in advance or $12 at the gate, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Whether your look is glam or girly, elegant or edgy, you’ll find everything you need to suit your style at the seventh annual Nifty for Fifty Sale happening on April 6 at Heritage Hall (3102 Main Street, Vancouver). More than 30 local designers — including Allison Wonderland, Elroy Apparel and Bueno Style — are rolling out their wares to dazzle fashionistas with everything from dresses and shirts to shoes and accessories, all priced at $50 or less. And not only will you be able to shop sizes ranging from zero to 24, but you’ll also find one-of-a-kind couture that won’t leave you looking like a mainstream mall rat. Check it out for $1 at the door, open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Don’t envy the judges at the 37th annual B.C. Interior Jazz Festival, unfolding April 10 to 12 at Kelowna Community Theatre and other venues. They’re faced with the tall task of narrowing down some of B.C.’s best jazz bands in an all-day competition on April 12 that concludes with a showcase concert and an awards ceremony, starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the door for $5, but don’t forget to check out the Jazz Masters concert on April 10 and the weekend workshops, too!
Imagine if Eminem wrote The Comedy of Errors, and that’s our best description of The Bomb-itty of Errors, playing at the Revue Stage (1601 Johnston St, Granville Island) from April 10 to May 10. This fast-paced “ad-rap-tation” of Shakespeare’s comedy of mistaken identities infuses Elizabethan times with hip-hop flavour as actors sing, rap and rhyme laugh-out-loud songs that retain much of the Bard’s original text — all while a DJ spins original tunes. First performed Off-Broadway in New York, the show has won fans across the world.
You know all those nasty jokes about red-headed stepchildren? Don’t believe ‘em, ‘cause few kids are cuter or more loveable than musical theatre’s Annie. And while the little orphan may have a “hard-knock life,” rest assured it all ends on a happy note in Royal City Musical Theatre’s take on the Tony-winning production, running from April 10 to 26 at New Westminster’s Massey Theatre. For the best deal, check out the April 13 matinee for two free tickets for kids/seniors with the purchase of two adult tickets.
Spring has sprung, but that’s no reason to retire your skis till next winter. From April 11 to 20, alpine enthusiasts can hit the hills for the Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival, a slope-side shindig delivering 10 days of kick-ass competition, along with Canada’s largest free outdoor concert series and a vendor showcase of all the latest and greatest in ski and snowboard gear.
Did you know that the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, taking place from April 1 to 30, is one of the entries in Patricia Schultz’s best-selling travel tome 1,000 Places to See Before You Die? That means you’ll only have 999 more to go once you swing by this floral fete, where you’ll enjoy such pastoral pleasures as a windmill garden, bargains on bulbs and rides through acres of fragrant tulip fields in the heart of Washington State.
Is there life on other planets? Where is the Final Frontier? What happened to Elvis? Discover answers to these and many other existential questions at Night Circus: Space Cruise at Fan Club (1050 Granville St, Vancouver). Like a campy Caribbean cruise crossed with Star Trek, this pleasure trip through “outer space” mixes burlesque, live music, theatre and circus arts, and takes place every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in April, from 8:30 p.m. Buy tickets online for $25 and be sure to come dressed up as your favourite alien!
An excursion to La Scala not in the cards? Do the next best thing at Café Pacifica, hosting a Saturday Night Opera Buffet in Vancouver’s Pan Pacific Hotel. Transformed every Saturday into a charming Italian bistro, the upscale eatery pairs live opera with an exquisite array of Italian cuisine — everything from antipasti and salads to fresh fish and pasta — followed by a smorgasbord of sweets, including tiramisu, cannoli and biscotti, starting at 6 p.m. Book for $49 per person by calling 604.895.2480.
