Special Event: Life's Basics - Fundraiser 2009

Commercial Drive & Friends Care

WHAT?
“Life’s Basics”- a fundraiser bringing awareness to essential basic needs of all people. Our focus is mainly surrounding water, and the need for clean, pure drinking water for everyone, but especially those living in under-developed nations.

WHY?

Everyone has a right to basic needs of water, food and shelter/protection. Unfortunately, there are so many people on this planet who do not have access to these rights. Queen Victoria Annex Elementary has been raising money to fund water-well building in Africa. Currently, they have almost raised enough to build a well in Tanzania. This well will allow children to attend schools, instead of spending their days collecting unclean and unhealthy drinking water for their families. Water collecting is usually a female job, therefore causing girls to miss or be late for school. A well will give everyone access to a basic right that they have been unable to have in the past.

Life’s Basics will help raise enough money to fund the completion and maintenance of this well in Tanzania. It will also help raise awareness for other issues such as everyone’s right to naturally grown foods free of GMOs and other harmful chemicals, as well as fairly-traded goods, shelter and protection and issues regarding sustainability.

WHO?

Anyone can be involved. Our goal is to unite businesses and members of the community from The Drive, Greater Vancouver as well as globally to come together and support this important cause. Not only will this be a successful fundraiser, but also an opportunity for businesses and people in the community to connect.

WHEN?

February 8, 2009. This is purposely scheduled close to Valentine’s Day to bring awareness to the harm that the holiday does to the planet. Flowers are covered in pesticides and soils for food are depleted with the fertilizers. Non fair-trade chocolates support cash crops, which are a large contributor to the feast and famine crisis that this planet has endured. Trees for bleached cards that are then covered with ink. We want to encourage ethical consumerism that is fair to all involved.

WHERE?

On Commercial Drive at 4 venues – the Grandview Legion, A Small World, WaaZuBee, and The Libra Room

However, all the businesses on the drive are invited and can participate as much as they like through promotion of fair trade & sustainable products and a percentage of the sales that day on that product, donated to the water well project. Another suggestion would be a silent auction item donation that is taking place at the 4 main venues participating. A great idea for a business as well, is sponsoring a part of the event and utilizing the exposure as well as tax-deduction advantages.

Venue Information - February 8th 2009

Tickets available for all venues (Pan African Forum is free)

1. Grandview Legion: Noon-3:30 pm (2205 Commercial Dr.) $15 Family/$5 Child/$6 Adult

• Kid’s Dance & Masquerade

• Poetry Slam (feat. Scruffmouth, Sonya Littlejohn, Relevant & Taslyim Li)
• Drumming & Live Music feat. Warless & Chelsea Johnson
• Raffle
• Recycled Costumes/Masks encouraged!
  

2. A Small World: 3pm-6pm (2120 Commercial Drive) Free

• 2^nd Annual Pan African Forum hosted by Black Dot Roots & Culture Collective
• Silent Auction
• Raffle

3. WaaZuBee: 7pm-Midnight (1622 Commercial Drive) $8

• Sustainable Fashion Show
• DJ
• Silent Auction
• Raffle

4. The Libra Room: 7pm-1am (1608 Commercial Drive) $15

• Live Music feat. Chelsea Johnson, Ghost Brothers, & Pacifika
• Sustainable Fashion Show
• Silent Auction
• Raffle

If you would like to become a sponsor or donor for this event, or to purchase tickets, please contact Jem or Katie at 604-630-2337 or

778-892-4044. Tickets are also available at Vancity

(East 1^st Ave. @ Commercial Drive)

Community Events: People's Coop Annual Sale - January 24-31st

20% off All Books -

January 24-31st.

Is there a book you've been eyeing that you can't afford? Want to stock up on winter reading? Check out People's Co-op Bookstore's Annual 20% off sale. Starts Saturday January 24th and ends Saturday January 31st.

People's Co-op Bookstore (est 1945)
1391 Commercial Drive
Vancouver, BC
V5L 3X5
Tel/Fax 604-253-6442
Toll Free 1-888-511-5556

coopbks@telus.net
www.peoplescoopbookstore.com

Film: Upcoming at the Rio...

Opening Friday Jan 23rd:

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD directed by Sam Mendes with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet this one's up for a few awards....word is it's one of the best performances from both actors. Showtimes Daily: 7pm and 9:30 pm weekend matinee Sunday 4:30pm (sat show is canceled for a private screening)

Friday Jan 23rd Midnight DBL Feature:
The Fly and Videodrome

Sat Jan 24th Midnight Dbl Cult Classic:
Clock work Orange and the Warriors
(this show is going to be busy so get here early to get a good seat!)

From now on All midnight movies start on time with a 15 min intermission so don't come late! That's right Horror nights will no longer take half an hour to get going!!!... we'll only sacrifice one virgin per night!!!

More info at

http://www.riotheatre.ca

Looking for People Who Use Electric-Assist Bikes

Writer Chris Keam is looking for people who use electric-assist bikes for an article he's writing for Momentum magazine.

Here's a note from Chris:
I'm especially hoping to get in touch with parents who might be using them to help with pulling a child trailer/trail-a-bike, or people with physical or age-related limitations that would make using a regular bike impractical or too onerous.

If you know of someone who would be amenable to answering a few questions (see below), please forward this message, or pass along their contact information.

The questions I'd like to ask are:

When did you start using an e-bike?

What prompted your decision?

What do you like about using an e-bike?

Are there any warnings or caveats you would like other people who are considering e-bikes to know about?

Do you have any pictures of yourself and your e-bike? If so, would it be possible to use one in the article?

thanks in advance,

Chris Keam
info(AT)chriskeam.com
604-780-6125
http://www.chriskeam.com/
chris is a member of the Momentum Magazine group:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=843330004&ref=ts

The Politics of Food Film Festival Seeks Project Coordinator

We are seeking a project coordinator and volunteers to help organize this film festival to be held in the Commercial Drive area in the spring. Support is needed in the area of sourcing out films, developing a local sponsorship program, and outreach and publicity. This will be a very fun project to help organize.For more info contact Ian @ 604-718-5895

Music: "Precariously" by Jess Hill

Local songtress, Jess Hill sings a beautiful ballad. Recorded live on January 17, 2009.

News: Community Police Office Vandalized Again

Katharine Kitts VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) | Tuesday, January 13th, 2009 3:52 pm

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The Grandview-Woodland Community Policing Centre on Commercial Drive has once again been targeted by vandals. And now the non-profit centre is asking for the public's help to recoup their losses.

Volunteer Eileen Mosca says over the last 10 years they've endured three arson attempts and four smashed windows. Faced with an outstanding bill of over $2,000, they've turned to cell phone recycler, Pitch In Canada that offers non-profit organizations $1 for every discarded cell phone they collect.

They hope people will donate their old phones to help pay for the damage. For more information, call 604-717-2932 .

Music: Opera Pro Cantanti @ the Wise Hall - TONIGHT

Theatre: Wired @ the Culch Feb 5 - 8

Damien is unnoticed in his cliquish grade, and that’s just the way this shy, self-proclaimed “goof” prefers it. Damien is jacked into a cooler version of himself through online role-playing games, social networking sites, and a multitude of virtual friends. But when he has a seemingly innocent run-in with a girl at school, Damien finds himself in the cross-hairs of a humiliating cyberbullying campaign. Just because it’s virtual makes it no less real. The online, alternate world he created to escape to is now something he needs to escape from.

Literary: Floetics

Saturday, January 31, 2009
Time:6:30pm - 9:00pm
Location:Bump N`Grind Cafe
Street:916 Commercial Drive
City/Town:Vancouver, BC

A night were 4 AMAZING spoken word artist go up and do their thing.

We got:

*Chris Gilpin (aka Faust McKenzie)
A member of the 2007-08 Vancouver Poetry Slam Team, the runner-up in the 2008 Vancouver Individual Poetry Slam competition, and the champion of Vancouver's 2008 Haiku Death Match. His sources of inspiration have come from such various sources as snooze buttons, donair, and arbutus trees. In the summer of 2006, he toured the Canadian Fringe circuit with his play "87% True: The Lies That Bind", co-created with Rosemary Rowe. His literary work has been published in Vancouver Review, Forget Magazine, 42opus, The GIG, and others. Chris always encourages the audience to stick their finger in the wonder socket.

*Magpie Ulysses
Has been called "One of Vancouver's most prolific and dynamic performers.” She has been a member of three Vancouver poetry slam teams, including two Canadian champion teams at ‘The Canadian Festival Of Spoken Word’, and is the winner of Vancouver's 2008 CBC Poetry face-off. Magpie has performed at festivals, poetry slams, fundraisers and house parties across Canada and throughout the United States. Magpie's poems and stories have been published in Common Ground Magazine, and two self-published chapbooks; "Tinfoil, Twist-ties & Other Shiny Things; Love poems from the aviary" 2005, and "School Of Etiquette." (2006)
She spits hot fire and is always happy to see you.

*Sean McGarragle
A poet and storyteller operating in East Vancouver. He helps out with the Vancouver Poetry Slam, The Main Street Slam, The Vancouver Story Slam, is the founder of the West Coast Poetry Festival, sits on the board of the Vancouver Poetry House, was a member of the 2007 Vancouver Poetry Slam team and the 2006 Story Slam Champion and has shared stages with the likes of juno winning dub-poet Lillian Allen, cowboy poet Ken Mitchell, Jazz poet/spoken word mama Sheri-D Wilson, slam champions Shane Koyczan and Brendon Macleod while touring Canada and the US. He is still looking but has a new pair of glasses.

*RC Weslowski
A clown mouth full of x ray visions attempting to get at the heart of things. A juggler of silly-balls and tart infused rhetoric RC was most recently given the 2008 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word Male Poet of Honour Award in Calgary. RC is also a member of the multi media clown rock combo: Awesome Face who has been playing in Vancouver to sell out crowds since November 2008. They are the most under hyped band ever. In 2007 representing Canada, RC finished 2nd in the world at the World Cup of Poetry Slam Competition in Bobigny, France.

*We also have the musical stylings of the lovely Chelsea D.E Johnson. She is a resident Commercial Drive songstress, constantly aamazing people with her voice and stage pressance.

$5 Bucks at the door

Sighn up for open mic @ 5:30pm

Show Starts @ 6:30pm

Theatre Terrific Classes Start Soon

Develop your performance skills by taking a Theatre Terrific theatre class this Winter. Classes start soon! Both classes take place at the Vancouver Japanese United Church, 4010 Victoria Dr at 23rd Avenue. Some bursaries available.

To register call 604 222-4020 today!

The Squawk Ensemble
with Joel DeStefano

Experience different and exciting ways of making sound. The class will focus on listening skills, rhythm and performing as a group. The ensemble will create and perform music through improvisation, vocal exercises, singing and drumming. Come and explore the diverse ways in which we communicate through sound with an ear for the unexpected.

Date: Thursday evenings, 6 - 8 pm
January 22 - March 26, 10 weeks
Cost: $120

Joel is a composer, musician and teacher who has written numerous musical scores for local theatre productions, including Theatre Terrific's Naked Oranges, doGs, SLOWrunning, workin' and All Sorts. Joel was nominated for a Jessie for 'best original music' for Lounge in 2006. He is co-founder of Proximity Labs, a cross-disciplinary group.

Let's Work With Our Guts
with Michelle Bruce and Sindy Angel

Be real, be honest, be yourself, nothing else, nobody else. You are the instrument: your soul, your body, your mind, just you. In this class we will work from the gut, from our deep inside. Our gut will be the muse, the place of inspiration. Michelle and Sindy will lead a class where you will discover new ways of expression and creation using just yourself and everything you are inside and outside.

Dates: Tuesday evenings, 7 - 9 pm
January 20 - March 10, 8 weeks
Cost: $95

Michelle Bruce has been teaching dynamic classes with Theatre Terrific for two years, bringing together her pssion for theatre and for working with diverse challenges. Sindy Angel is an actor trained in Columbia. Since arriving in Canada two years ago she has been cast as "Daughter" in Theatre Terrific's The House of Seikilos, and performed in HIVE at the Magnetic North Theatre Festival.

Theatre Terrific is a Vancouver-based theatre company dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities in the world of theatre. TT envisions a world where artists with disabilities are heard, seen, challenged and respected.

To be taken off of this email list, reply with Please Remove in the subject line. Thank you!

Cathy McDonald
General Manager
Theatre Terrific Society
phone: 604 222-4020
email: info@theatreterrific.ca
web: www.theatreterrific.ca

Transforming lives through the power of theatre

Ziggy Books Closes January 10th!

If you haven't checked out this amazing estate sale, you need to get there soon because it won't be here long.

The more books you buy, the better the deal!

The store is open 7 days a week from 11am -8pm.

1883 Commercial Drive (3rd and Commercial)

Tel. 604 723-5384

For more info about this unique little store go here:

http://thedriveisalive.blogspot.com/search?q=ziggy+books

or go here to their own website:

http://ziggybooks.blogspot.com

Visual Art: "In the Neighborhood" @ Turks

Artist and poet Leanne Sjodin is pleased to present "In the Neighbourhood" currently exhibited at Turks Coffee Lounge at 1276 Commercial Drive. Linda and Brian Turko are keen supporters of local artists. Turks is a community unto itself. Stop by to see this art show, drink some damn good coffee,and pick up on the local vibe.

Find more of her work and poetry here: http://raptinaspectrum.blogspot.com/

Literary: Ditmars, Gavrilovich and Jones @ Ziggy Books

Click anywhere above for a larger version.