Jeni’s Picks Week of January 19-24, 2016

Picks people… since we can’t collectively stand on our toes and screw a lightbulb into the sky, here are some things to help brighten up the drab and dreary days predicted in the weather report… As always, please check with venues for any last minute changes. Enjoy! Annual Dine Out Vancouver Jan 15-21 Canada’s largest food and drink festival dishes up unlimited ways to enjoy the flavours of the city. Choose from a 17-day calendar of culinary events and experiences, 275+ participating restaurants throughout the city and dozens of hotel options to create delicious dining experiences each offering three or more course dinners at $18, $28 or $38  www.dineoutvancouver.com           PuSH Festival Jan 19-Feb 7                                                                                                                     The fest will serve up a multidisciplinary feast of shows that blur and mash up the lines between performance art, theatre, music, dance, film,

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Jeni’s Picks of the Week Jan 13-17, 2016

RIP to the iconic David Bowie… it has all been said already and much better than I could say it, but thanks David for the legacy of your brilliant music and your creative genius. http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2016/01/brixton-loses-its-brightest-star-man-a-brixton-tribute-to-david-bowie/ Final photo released to his website on his birthday January 8, 2016 just 2 days before he died.               New happenings in 2016… at Frankie’s 765 Beatty Happy Hour Piano Solo (4pm – 6, no cover, lots of specials) Jan 13 – 15, Bruno Hubert Jan 20 – 22, Brad Turner Jan 27 – 29, Paul Keeling Late Night (11pm – 1am, $5 cover) Jan 15/16 , Cory Weeds Trio with special guests Jan 22/23, Bruno Hubert Trio Jan 29/30, Adam Rohrlick Trio Italian Film Festival Jan 8-14 at VanCity Theatre The Italian Film Festival’s mandate is to raise awareness and promote all aspects of Italian cinema. The festival, a collaboration involving Il Centro Italian Cultural Centre, the Vancouver International Film Festival, and the Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver, blends contemporary and classic films from Italy’s significant cinematic repertoire to create a unique festival experience. Contemporary films from the past two to three years are merged with Italy’s rich

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Jeni’s Picks Jan 2-10, 2016

Happy New Year everyone!! RIP Dal Richards and Natalie Cole.  2016 will be a lesser year without them. New happenings in 2016… at Frankie’s 765 Beatty Happy Hour Piano Solo (4pm – 6, no cover, lots of specials) Jan 6 – 9, Ron Johnston Jan 13 – 15, Bruno Hubert Jan 20 – 22, Brad Turner Jan 27 – 29, Paul Keeling Late Night (11pm – 1am, $5 cover) Jan 2, Steve Kaldestad Trio Jan 8/9, Kristian Braathen Jan 15/16 , Cory Weeds Trio with special guests Jan 22/23, Bruno Hubert Trio Jan 29/30, Adam Rohrlick Trio Firehall Theatre 280 East Cordova $33/28/23 … to Jan 9 Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen (highly recommended) Another special run of the Firehall’s smash hit musical! Leonard Cohen’s powerful and inspirational music is the heartbeat of Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, as six performers play seventeen different instruments in a rollicking tribute to the remarkable writer. http://www.reviewvancouver.org/th_chelsea_hotel2015.htm http://firehallartscentre.ca/onstage/chelsea-hotel-the-songs-of-leonard-cohen-20152016/           Vancouver Art Gallery 750 Hornby Jan 8-11 $15/20 The Undocumented Trial of William C. Hopkinson A stageplay which reimagines the 1914 Vancouver Trial of Mewa Singh 101 years later, at the same venue it originally took

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Jeni’s Picks of the Week Dec 23-Jan 2, 2016

Dear Picks People… thanks for reading all year long and for getting out to support live music and other cultural events in Vancouver. **THINGS GET VERY QUIET DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON SO PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK ANY VENUES YOU ARE USED TO FREQUENTING TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE OPEN/HAVE LIVE MUSIC.** Wednesday Dec 23 Frankie’s 765 Beatty St 4P.M. No cover Jillian Lebeck will be playing some solo piano and singing on December 23rd and December 30th to get you into and keep you into the spIrit. 4pm – 6, no cover and lots of ‘happy hour’ deals.           Thursday Dec 24 TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE…. St. Andrews Wesley Burrard & Nelson 3p.m. Donation We Three Queens The good times keep rolling. Christmas Eve with We Three Queens. This one will benefit the Refugee Assistance Committee.             Friday Dec 25 MERRY CHRISTMAS           Saturday DEC 26 BOXING DAY Pat’s Pub 403 E.Hastings St 3-7p.m. No cover Tom Keenlyside 4tet Skip the sales and wash away the Boxing Day blahs with the Tom Keenlyside 4tet. They will be remembering Bob Murphy by playing his music        

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Jeni’s Picks of the Week Dec 16-20

East Van Panto at the York Theatre … to January 3  (saw it..recommend it!) Hansel & Gretel An East Van Panto is back! Theatre Replacement steps way off the beaten path for this year’s edition with the weird and wonderful Hansel and Gretel. Complete with an edible house, a butt-kicking brother and sister team, and a cute little cannibal witch, Hansel and Gretel lures you deep into the East Van wilderness to deliver a fantastic holiday treat. The draw: Panto favourites Veda Hille, Allan Zinyk, Dawn Petten, and Charlie Demers return https://thecultch.com/events/hansel-and-gretel-an-east-van-panto/ http://www.straight.com/arts/592456/hansel-and-gretel-east-van-panto-freewheeling-fun *** several performances already sold out so book early               East Van Craft Breweries Self-guided Tasting Tour start at 1345 Clark Drive Strange Fellows Brewing If you’re looking for a fun way to spend a (tipsy) afternoon, take yourself on a Vancouver craft beer self-guided tasting tour around the lower East Vancouver / Strathcona area (also lovingly known as Yeast Van)! If you can make it to all the stops, way to go! Otherwise, take it easy and spread this tasting tour over a couple of days. http://boredinvancouver.com/listing/east-van-craft-breweries-self-guided-tasting-tour/         Wednesday Dec 16 InterUrban Gallery 1 E. Hastings 7p.m.

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Jeni’s Picks of the Week Dec 9-13, 2015

Happy Chanukah to all those celebrating.             Another Christmas gem from the lovely & talented Katherine Penfold. Just charming! She is posting a new song every day of advent as a gift… Winter Wonderland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oIXN80cJbs&feature=youtu.be         And light up your life…where to see Christmas Lights http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/12/places-to-see-christmas-lights-vancouver-2015/?utm_source=Vancity+Buzz+Newsletter&utm_campaign=4e41e49191-VCB_110515&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_117f3ac428-4e41e49191-77976929 Entertaining and informative documentary on History of Granville St http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/12/vancouver-granville-street-history/         Beat the Blues with Boozy Beverages http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2015/12/02/eight-awesome-warm-boozy-drinks-to-beat-vancouver-grey-sky-blues/               Lumiere Festival Vancouver Dec 11/12 after dusk! For two nights in the darkness of December, the West End will brighten up and offer local and international artist’s interpretation of light through interactive, colorful and magical installations on the streets and in parks. In addition to the lighting installations, visitors can expect free hop-on, hop-off trolley tours, free horse-drawn carriage rides, and free entertainment on Davie, Denman, and Robson streets. http://www.lumierefestivalvan.org Vogue Theatre Christmas Movie Series Starting Sunday, December 13th The Vogue Theatre will be screening your holiday favourites to help collect for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Doors open at 1pm, movie starts at 1:30pm.The Vogue staff will be serving an assortment of beer and wine along with traditional

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Jeni’s Picks of the Week December 2-6, 2015

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas (and the holiday season in general) so very early out there….. .thanks to Katherine Penfold for this little gem of a rendition of an old standard … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4_x5zZcgbc And the craft beer capital of Canada is??? http://www.straight.com/food/587626/los-angeles-times-calls-east-van-craft-beer-capital-canada               In case you need warming up… http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2015/11/best-soup-vancouver/         Vogue Theatre Christmas Movie Series Starting Sunday, December 13th The Vogue Theatre will be screening your holiday favourites to help collect for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Doors open at 1pm, movie starts at 1:30pm.The Vogue staff will be serving an assortment of beer and wine along with traditional movie snacks. All AGES WELCOME! Admission is FREE with a donation of a non-perishable food item for the Vancouver Food Bank. Cash donations will also be accepted. THIS WEEK… The Polar Express http://voguetheatre.com/events/the-polar-express/         18th Annual EU Film Festival Nov 27- Dec 9                                                                        This year’s event is Pacific Cinematheque’s

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Jeni’s Picks of the Week November 25-29, 2015

Not sure why but seem to have spent many more hours than usual compiling this week’s list… and I know I have missed events I’d have liked to share with you. However, if I don’t send something out today there is no point… so here it is YIMBY’s have taken over Commercial Drive http://vancouverisawesome.com/2015/11/23/yimbys-have-taken-over-commercial-drive/ Recommended.  Kept me on the edge of my seat and it was hard not to get involved and shout aloud!! Interurban Art Gallery 1 East Hastings 8p.m. Nov 18-29 $20/$17 12 Angry Jurors Based on the play/film of “12 Angry Men” Theatre in the Raw’s exciting production of “12 Angry Jurors”! Relocated in time to a hot summer day in late 1970’s New York City, and featuring a gender and racially mixed cast,”Twelve Angry Jurors” crackles with all the excitement found when a group of ordinary citizens are thrown together to decide the ultimate fate of a boy accused of murder. It is spring-loaded with tension, full of surprises, sprinkled with humour, and moves relentlessly toward an explosive and emotional finale. http://www.theatreintheraw.ca/tickets.html               PAL Studio Theatre 581 Cardero St 8p.m. Nov 19-29 $20 Agnes of God (presented by Alchemy Theatre

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Jeni’s Picks of the Week November 18-22, 2015

I know that we are all shocked and saddened by recent horrific news, but I do hope you will find time to go out to at least one event this week. Not only to seek a little solace from a world gone mad, but because, at a dark, difficult, and depressing time like this, the Arts have the power to link and unite us, and to help us to recapture something of what it means to be human. “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” Mahatma Gandhi The origins of Jazz in Vancouver… great article for your reading pleasure https://pasttensevancouver.wordpress.com/2015/11/11/the-origins-of-jazz-in-vancouver/               Interurban Art Gallery 1 East Hastings 8p.m. Nov 18-29 $20/$17 12 Angry Jurors Based on the play/film of “12 Angry Men” Theatre in the Raw’s exciting production of “12 Angry Jurors”! Relocated in time to a hot summer day in late 1970’s New York City, and featuring a gender and racially mixed cast,”Twelve Angry Jurors” crackles with all the excitement found when a group of ordinary citizens are thrown together to decide the

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Jeni’s Picks Week of November 11-15, 2015

12th Annual Diwali Fest Nov 3-15 Celebrated across the world, Diwali is the biggest, brightest and most popular event in the Indian calendar. The word diwali means “row of lighted lamps”, with light symbolizing the triumph of good over evil, prosperity over poverty and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali Fest is an annual South Asian arts & culture festival celebrating the universal light that exists in everyone.  Each year’s festival engages dozens of artists in events across the city, the majority of which are open and free to the general public, by suggested donation, or at very affordable ticketed prices. http://diwalifest.ca/events/     42nd Annual Circle Craft Fair Nov 11-15 Circle Craft is proud to present its 42nd annual Christmas Craft Market! Generations of locals and visitors have attended and enjoyed a Market where they come face to face with fine BC and Canadian artisans and their work. http://www.circlecraft.net Wednesday Nov 11 (Remembrance Day) Fraserview Cemetery 5455 Fraser St 11 a.m. Free 11- A community history & music project (15 mins plus archival photos of WW11) The Little Chamber Music Series That Could is proud to again present this unique music and history project, “11”. In the Celebration Hall an arrangement

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