Choral fans, this is a definite don't-miss-it - just be prepared to catch yourself humming random choruses for several days following.
The Douglas College Choral Society is holding its fall concert this weekend, on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 7: 30 p.m.
The centrepiece of the concert is none other than Carl Orff's spectacular Carmina Burana, which will be familiar to both choral and non-choral fans alike.
(If you think you don't know it, think again - its O Fortuna chorus has become quite ubiquitous in pop culture, not the least of which as the dramatic musical background for Rickard's Red commercials. Google it if you don't believe me.)
In any case, it's a stunning work - so catch it if you can, in the college's Laura C. Muir Performing Arts Theatre at the college's New West campus, 700 Royal Ave. The theatre is on the fourth floor north.
Regular tickets are $15, seniors are $10, and there's no charge for students.
The choral society is directed by Eric Hannan, who teaches voice at Douglas College and is also the artistic director of the Vancouver Cantata Singers.
For information, call 604-527-5469 or see www. douglascollege.ca/arts events.
POETS GATHER
Poetry fans, don't miss the next Poetic Justice gathering this weekend.
Featured poets Jonina Kirton, Ashok Bhargava and Mary Duffy will headline the Poetic Justice session at the Heritage Grill on Sunday, Nov. 27.
The afternoon will be hosted by Franci Louann, who co-founded the Poetic Justice reading series along with Candice James, New Westminster's poet laureate.
Kirton is a Métis poet and graduate of Simon Fraser University's Writers Studio whose work has been featured in a number of publications including Toronto Quarterly, Quills Canadian Poetry Magazine, Enlightening Times U.K. and many more.
Bhargava is a Vancouver-based poet and essayist who has authored four books of poetry and been featured in many literary magazines and anthologies.
Duffy, an East Coast native now living on the West Coast, has seen her poetry published in various anthologies and journals including Quills, Blueprint Review, High Altitude and more. Her work deals mainly with her experience of growing up in Newfoundland as a child of the outport resettlement of the 1960s.
There will also be an open mike session after the readings.
Poetic Justice runs from 3 to 5 p.m. in the back room at the Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St.
BOOK PARTY
A New Westminster author is having a book rerelease party this weekend.
Mike Mountain is hosting the party on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 1 p.m. at the Boston Pizza in Columbia Square.
His novel The Eastman Chronicles is currently available on Amazon. com as a print-on-demand novel or as an e-book.
Here's a synopsis from the site: "Cliff Eastman is an ex-boxer and current small-time gambler with big-time troubles. He finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, getting caught between an ongoing battle between mobsters and the FBI.
Travelling between Vegas and LA and back again, Cliff fights to get back the one thing he craves the most ... his freedom."
So far, Mountain has sold more than 100 copies and says he's steadily gathering more interest in his book.
What's extra-special for book lovers is that partial proceeds of his book sales will go towards leukemia and multiple sclerosis research, as both have touched Mountain's life personally - he is a leukemia survivor, and his girlfriend has multiple sclerosis.
Want to know more? Check out Mike Mountain on Amazon.com.
Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment ideas to Julie, jmaclellan@royalcityrecord. com, or follow her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
