It can be tough to be a writer - it can be solitary, demanding, the kind of life where it's easy to feel unrecognized and unappreciated.
That's not going to happen in New Westminster if the Royal City Literary Arts Society has anything to say about it.
"We just want to make New Westminster a big hub of literary activity," says Candice James, the city's poet laureate.
Candice - whom I spoke to recently in connection with the launch of her latest book, Shorelines, had nothing but enthusiasm to share for the flourishing literary arts community in the city.
And what's not to love? What with regular poetry readings, short story open mikes, workshops at the library and songwriter nights, it seems there's something for every writer and word-lover in town.
Candice is quick to note that's not happening by accident. It's thanks to the hard work of a lot of people.
She names Franci Louann, who spearheads the Poetic Justice gatherings; Margo Prentice, who leads the short story open mike sessions; Enrico Renz and Lawren Nemeth, who run the songwriter open mike nights; Ken Ader, videographer; and Janet Kvammen, whom Candice describes as her own "right hand."
Moreover, she says, the group has found support from the community at large.
There's Paul Minhas at Heritage Grill, who has offered up his premises for the open mike sessions, songwriter evenings and Poetic Justice gatherings - and made a donation to the society to boot.
"He's just been superb," Candice says.
There's the New Westminster Public Library, where Debra Nelson has worked with the group to partner on workshops and gatherings.
There's the City of New Westminster, which has given the group the Queen's Park bandshell for Poetry in the Park nights.
And then there's the Arts Council of New Westminster, which has opened up its premises at Centennial Lodge for poetry nights when the weather didn't cooperate for outdoors - and which has invited the Literary Arts Society to be part of LitFest each year.
So yes, the city is becoming a literary hub - and that's because of all of those people, and more.
"If we didn't have the support, it wouldn't happen," Candice says. "We need that support in the city, and we're getting it."
Concerts at the Quay The last Concerts at the Quay event for the summer was a successful one.
A Hyack Festival press release notes that a crowd of more than 700 people - some with their dancing shoes - turned out for the concert at the Quay on Aug. 3. Alex Maher kicked off the event with his loop pedal, alto saxophone, guitar and vocals. Singer-songwriter Ben Rogers followed with his vocal and guitar skills, and Tonye Aganaba and the Foundation got the crowd going with their high-energy performance.
The headliners, Hans Theessink and Terry Evans, wound up the evening - and, as the press release notes, really connected to the audience, "producing some very powerful and magical musical moments."
Kudos to everyone for making the concert series such a success for the summer.
Hyack update The Hyack Festival Association's float is continuing to delight the crowds as it travels to parades around the region.
It was in White Rock for the 2013 Spirit of the Sea Festival Torchlight Parade on Aug. 3. Annabelle Lei, a 2012 Hyack Ambassador, was joined by Hyack president Gavin Palmer, First Lady Jacke Palmer, pastpresidents David MacGrotty and Rick Molstad, director Gloria Munro and past-president Karen Baker-MacGrotty, also honorary colonel of the Royal Westminster Regiment.
The Torchlight Parade has adopted a "green" theme, and Hyack qualified as the only float in the parade with an electric motorized float.
"As the sun set over beautiful White Rock beach, the crowds gathered to enjoy the evening extravaganza and the cool breeze along the ocean boardwalk," says a press release. "Well done to our entire team. It was another amazing evening for the Hyack Festival Association."
Young blood The Uptown Unplugged summer busking series is going from strength to strength.
The series - which is bringing a diverse lineup of performers to the outdoor stage outside Westminster Centre on Saturdays and Sundays over the summer - has been a hit with local residents, and the B.C. Day weekend performances were no exception.
The Hyack Festival Association wrote to let us know about the youngest performer yet - sevenyear-old Tyson Venegas of New Westminster, who jumped up on stage to join his grandmother, Salve Dayao, and her jazz band.
"Little Tyson blew away the crowd singing some jazz tunes," wrote Alexis Douglas of the association. "Little Tyson's pipes can give Frank Sinatra and Michael Bublé a run for their money. Definitely keep an ear open for him in the future."
If you missed Tyson at Uptown Unplugged, he'll reportedly be on the PNE mainstage and performing at his grandmother's Java Jazz Bistro on Sixth Street.
The busking series has also twice hosted the Vancouver Poetry Slam - once on the long weekend and once just this past weekend.
For future lineups, keep an eye on www.uptownunplugged. ca. Buskers wanting to perform should contact Alexis at admin@hyack.bc.ca.
Do you have an item for the Lively City? Send arts and entertainment ideas to Julie, jmaclellan@royalcity record.com, or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
Photo Contributed, The Record / Groovin': The crowd was up and dancing for the final Concerts at the Quay performance on Aug. 3. Alex Maher kicked off the event, followed by singer-songwriter Ben Rogers, Tonye Aganaba and the Foundation and headliners, Hans Theessink and Terry Evans, who wound up the evening of music on the waterfront.; Photo Contributed, The Record / Young powerhouse: Tyson Venegas, a seven-year-old singer from New Westminster, wowed 'em at an Uptown Unplugged performance with his grandmother, Salve Dayao, and her jazz band.;
