Do you love historical fiction?
Turn out to Renaissance Books on Wednesday, Oct. 15 to catch a reading by two local writers.
Ruth Kozak and Eileen Kernaghan will be on hand to read from their new novels at 7 p.m. An open mike will follow their reading.
Kozak recently released The Shadow of the Lion, which starts in Babylon at the time of Alexander the Great's death.
"It follows the journey of the newly appointed joint kings, Alexander's half-brother Philip Arridaios and his infant son, Iskander, through Asia Minor and Egypt to Macedon, until the year 301 BC when tragedy marks the end of Alexander's dynasty," a press release explains.
Kernaghan is the author of Sophie, In Shadow, set in British India in 1914.
The book is described as "a story of spies and terrorist plots, time travel and Himalayan journeys, played out against the background of a world at war."
It follows the story of Sophie Pritchard, who has lost her parents in the Titanic disaster and who finds herself in an India "where past, present and future seem to co-exist."
You can find out more about the writers at their websites: www.ruthkozak.com and www.eileenkernaghan.ca.
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Young artists are being offered a chance to find inspiration in the work of Emily Carr.
Artist Sandi Henrich is leading a free ArtStarts workshop for kids at River Market on Sunday, Oct. 26.
Henrich will lead two sessions feared at six- to 12-year-olds, one at 11 a.m. and one at 1 p.m.
A write-up about the session notes that kids will learn how Emily Carr developed her unique artistic style and explore the concepts of foreground, middle-ground and background while using oil pastels and paints in the creation of their own layered composition.
Find out more about Sandi at www.sandihenrich.ca.
Art Starts, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing innovative arts programs for young people, offers free monthly workshops at River Market. Check out www.artstarts.com for more details.
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Two New Westminster dancers are in the spotlight as Ballet B.C. prepares to open its new season.
Ballet B.C. is kicking off its season with No. 29 - a program that marks both the 29th season and the 29th new creation under the artistic leadership of Emily Molnar.
A press release notes that No. 29 features the world premiere of White Act, by Spanish-born choreographer Fernando Hernando Magadan, the Ballet B.C. premiere of An Instant, by Vancouver-born choreographer Lesley Telford, and the reprisal of the audience favourite A.U.R.A., by Italy's Jacopo Godani.
In the Ballet B.C. ranks are two local dancers.
Christoph von Reidmann, who's new to the company this year, grew up in New West, while returning company dancer Darren Devaney lives in the city.
Ballet fans can catch them on stage Nov. 6 to 8, with 8 p.m . performances at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Molnar, the company's artistic director, promises an exciting start to the new season.
"Dance has the power to transform a room, a person, a way of seeing things," she said in a press release. "With this program we will have commissioned 29 new works over the past five years by dance makers from around the world. No. 29 is an evening that will showcase a dynamic and versatile range of dance while offering an engaging experience for audiences. It will grab you, excite you and challenge your ideas of ballet."
Tickets range in price from $30 to $80 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 1-855-985-2787 or ticketmaster.ca.
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Choral music fans have two chances to catch some fine music for Remembrance Day.
On Saturday, Nov. 8, the Coquitlam Chorale and the Vancouver Orpheus Male Choir are presenting Lest We Forget, a 7:30 p.m. concert at New Westminster Christian Reformed Church.
Tickets are $20 regular, $18 for seniors or $10 for students, and free for children under 12.
They're available by emailing [email protected] or calling the Orpheus info line at 604-515-5686.
A note: New Westminster Christian Reformed Church is in fact in Burnaby - at 8255 13th Ave., to be exact (between First and Newcombe streets).
The same night also features a Remembrance Day concert by Chor Leoni men's choir at Queens Avenue United Church. The 7:30 p.m. performance, A Great Service, includes the wartime poems and stories of Robert service, alongside a variety of similarly themed music.
"This year's music ranges from Gustav Holst's stirring setting of Walt Whitman's texts to the tranquility of Paul Mealor's recent work for male choir and clarinet, I Saw Eternity," said artistic director Erick Lichte in a press release. "Following Chor Leoni tradition, we'll end with The Last Post and Rupert Lang's beloved Kontakion, with the audience joining in on the refrain."
The choir will be joined by guest organist Ellen Ay-Laung Wang and by reader Christopher Gaze, of Bard on the Beach fame, who will present Service's work.
The concert is $30 for adults and seniors, or $10 for students with ID.
(If you miss the Saturday concert in New West, it also runs twice on Remembrance Day, Nov. 11, with a 1 p.m. show in West Vancouver and a 7:30 show in Vancouver.)
Check out www.chorleoni.org for details and ticket information.
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The many artistic talents of New West youth are in the spotlight as the Momentum Youth Arts Festival returns to the city next month.
The newly expanded festival is running Nov. 10 to 21 at the Massey Theatre, with a variety of workshops and events throughout that time.
Among the highlights are a festival showcase on Saturday, Nov. 15 featuring popular local bands We Are The City and Good For Grapes, as well as local youth bands chosen through a new CONNECT Mentorship program.
Returning for the festival is award-winning comedy troupe The fictionals Comedy Co., with their edition of Improv Against Humanity on Thursday, Nov. 20.
There will also be a dance showcase on Nov. 14, presented in partnership with Dances For a Small Stage. Young dancers have been given a chance to work in collaboration with musicians, with four collaborative workshops that start Oct. 19.
An interactive art gallery will also be running at the Massey Theatre's Plaskett Gallery throughout the festival.
Keep an eye on this space for more details as the festival approaches, or see www.momentumyouthartsmovement.com to get involved.
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Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment ideas to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
