Our carefully considered first rate list of super sweet things that we’re either doing, wishing that we could do, or conspiring to do this week…

WEDNESDAY

Save UBC Farm
Ben West, a “healthy communities campaigner“, will be on hand to speak about regional food security issues and the current state of the campaign to save UBC farm. This is a timely opportunity to make yourself aware of the issues facing the farm – next week is the “Save The UBC Farm, Join The Trek” event. Get involved.
April1 | 7pm | VPL Kitsilano Branch | FREE

Feral Trade: a talk by Bristol-based artist Kate Rich
Kate Rich founded Feral Trade, a public experiment in the trade of goods over social networks. “The Feral Trade Courier is a live shipping database for a freight network running outside commercial systems. The database offers dedicated tracking of feral trade products in circulation, archives every shipment and generates freight documents on the fly […] Feral Trade forges new ’wild’ trade routes across hybrid territories of business, art and social interaction. [The Artist] is currently moving deeper into the infrastructure of cultural economy, developing protocols to define and manage amenities of hospitality, catering, sports and survival in the cultural realm.” You might need a bit more in the way of background (I did), so check it out here.
April 1 | 7pm | Western Front Grande Luxe Hall (303 East 8th Avenue) | FREE

THURSDAY

Projecting Change
“Projecting Change is an innovative organization that focuses on promoting green and sustainable living through the use of entertaining & educational film. Through the strategic use of engaging films and inspiring speakers we aim to increase awareness and promote change within our local community. Through these efforts all profits are invested back into local initiatives.” The Projecting Change Film Festival raises awareness of social and environmental issues by engaging community through films and lectures with the hopes of empowering audiences to affect change within their communities. www.projectingchange.ca for more information.
April 2 – 5 | Various times | Fifth Avenue Cinemas | Ticket prices vary (profits are reinvested in community).

FREE wine?
Yes, free wine (Chateau St Jean Sonoma Chardonnay) paired with a fashion show by JC Studio. Start your weekend off by grabbing a glass with the girls while you contemplate the relative merits of this season’s latest trends. For further information or to make a reservation, please contact Irene Laronde at 604-915-5105 or [email protected].
April 2 | 7-9pm | Morton’s Steak House | FREE

Stories from the Margin
A film screening of “raw, bold, and poignant personal short stories by racialized filmmakers with an interest in identity politics”.
April 2 | pm | Vancouver Public Library| FREE

FRIDAY

Mirah plays the Biltmore
April 3 | Doors at 8:00pm, Show at 9:30pm | Biltmore $16

Anne Michaels in conversation with Hal Wake.
From the Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival web site: “Fugitive Pieces (1996) catapulted novelist Anne Michaels into the forefront of literary superstars. It won the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction and has been translated into more than 20 languages. Now after more than a decade Anne Michaels returns with a new novel The Winter Vault. Breathtaking, vivid in its exploration of both the physical and emotional worlds of its characters, intensely moving and lyrical, The Winter Vault is a radiant work of fiction and contains all the elements for which Anne Michaels is celebrated.” For ticket info call 604-629-8849
April 3 | 7:30pm | St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church (1022 Nelson Street at Burrard) | $15

SATURDAY

The Look of the Past
If there was any way I could pull it off, I would attend tonight’s Vancouver Institute lecture with Professor Ludmilla Jordanova (Professor of Modern History, King’s College, London and, Former Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery, London Portraiture and Identity. This is a woman who digs the notions of portraiture and identity so much that it has become the focus of her research and teaching. She is currently writing a book which “explores the role of visual and material culture in historical practice, provisionally entitled The Look of the Past.” Seriously, this sounds like it would be a fascinating night, but there is no way I can swing it. If you go…please…let us know about it.
April 4 | 8:15pm | Lecture Hall No. 2 / Woodward Centre, UBC | FREE

“Coen Brothers Film Festival!”

The Biltmore continues to brighten our Saturday afternoons with free flicks and cheap beer. The theme for this month: The Coen Brothers. That’s right, the unconventional works of the Coen Brothers will be celebrated every Saturday for the entire month of April. “And not just the movie, dj’s will be spinning Coenesque records before and after as well. All the while you can have a pint or two and eat some snacks – top that on a Saturday afternoon.” But wait – there’s more: The Biltmore Facebook Faeries tell us that “The films will be shown on [their] improved screen [with] super bitchin’ sound system!” I’d love to tell you which flick will be showing – but no one knows yet. With so many solid titles to choose from – the Bilt are going to let you decide…
April 4 | 12-5pm| The Biltmore | FREE

Olympicraze – Pulse to the Podium
Wow – I felt stupid typing “Olympicraze’ just now, but maybe I just haven’t gotten myself into the spirit yet. If they don’t fire their branding person soon, maybe I never will…From the event organizers: “Get into the Olympic spirit with your family, friends and neighbours! Try out a winter sport on the Nintendo Wii, play some Olympic-themed carnival games, make a medal, pose on the podium, check out some cool displays and more – something for everyone.” I highly doubt that.
April 4 | 2 – 4pm | Britannia Centre, Gym D | FREE

SUNDAY

Guitar & Record Show
If you’re looking to pick up instruments, amplifiers, parts, magazines and music books, pedals, shirts, CD’s, records, videos, posters or music memorabilia, this is where you’ll want to be today. The Swap ‘n’ Shop and the Vancouver Record Show will sport loads of tables jam-packed with all of the above items, and more.
April 5 | 10am -2pm | Croatian Cultural Center | $3

Another fine instore performance at Zulu Records…
Now that you are all pumped up on your musical memorabilia scores – get yourself over to Zulu Records for an instore with Sebastian Grainger of DFA 1979. Don’t let his myspace descriptor of “Healing and Easy Listening” scare you away. Healing can be achieved in many ways – have a listen and we’re sure you’ll want to pop around Zulu for an intimate solo acoustic performance with Sebastian Grainger. Get there early as space is limited.
April 5 | 3:30 | Zulu Records | FREE

MONDAY

Worlds of Music: From Baroque to Bossa Nova
Vancouver Community College’s School of Music presents two evenings of music by talented VCC bands: Madrigal Singers, Pre-Bop Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Orchestra, Short Fuse Combo, Latin Jazz Ensemble, and the Chamber Choir.
April 6 | 7pm | VPL Main Branch | FREE

TUESDAY

Save The UBC Farm, Join The Trek
Trek from the Student Union Building (starting at 3:30 pm) to UBC Farm. (If you can’t get there until after work, don’t worry, there will be shuttles to get you caught up with the crowd. But it’s a good cause, blow off the office. I know I plan to. From the UBC Farm website: “Come help celebrate the UBC Farm and its future! It has been a great year for the farm, in terms of recognition, awards and media attention. However, the future of the 24 hectare farm is still not clear, so it is time to come together to show our unified support for a bright future for the Farm! This is a celebratory, family-friendly event. We want thousands to join us as we trek from the UBC Student Union Building (SUB) via the Board of Governors meeting and then on to the UBC Farm” The whole gig is planned by the Friends of the UBC Farm Advocacy Group and is followed by a ceremony with delicious food, engaging speakers, and toe-tapping music.
April 7 | 3:30 until early evening | UBC SUB | FREE and just think of the good karma

Student Film Festival
After you’ve had a stretch of your legs at the UBC trek, you can wander over to the NORM to rest up at the UBC FilmSoc’s 2nd Annual Student Film Festival. All films screened tonight were made by FilmSoc Productions and other UBC students. Double karma – support local artists after your show of support for The Farm.
April 7 | 7:30 | The NORM | FREE

We Were Here: Shane Koyczan at the Cultch
From the Cultch: “The Vancouver East Cultural Centre commissioned Shane [Koyczan] and Jordan [Nobles] to write a show. We Were Here is an exploration of memory and how the events that we carry with us shape who we become. The show will feature new work from both artists and is a cross-disciplinary, concert length collaboration that will explore not only our memories but also the ones we hope to create. Bringing together two hot young BC talents — spoken word artist Shane Koyczan and new music composer Jordan Nobles.” I know Shane Koyczan is crazy talented – and I wouldn’t mind paying to see him – but 30 bucks?
April 7 | 8pm | Vancouver East Cultural Centre | Advance $26; at door $30
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Michelle Sproule grew up in Kitsilano and attended Bond University in Australia and the University of Victoria before receiving her graduate degree in Library Sciences from The University of Toronto. She lives by the beach in Vancouver and enjoys wandering aimlessly through the city’s shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera.

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