ON NOW
To Sunday, May 4
Jesse Nishihata - Visual Storyteller, a retrospective of the work of the pioneering Japanese Canadian filmmaker, with a chance to select from several films to view in a private screening. At the National Nikkei Museum and Cultural Centre, 6688 Southoaks Cres. Open Tuesday through Sunday, admission by donation, see www.nikkeiplace.org or call 604-777-7000.
To Saturday, May 17
Multiple Visions, an exhibition featuring the work of members of the Richard Major Art Group and My Artist's Corner, at the Burnaby Arts Council's Deer Lake Gallery, 6584 Deer Lake Ave. Open Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 4 p.m., free admission. Info: www.burnabyartscouncil.org or 604-298-7322.
To May 18
Arts Alive, a showcase of student artwork, at Burnaby Art Gallery, 6344 Deer Lake Ave. Info: 604-297-4422, www.burnabyartgallery.ca
To June 22
Saskia Jetten, an exhibition of the work of the contemporary printmaker, upstairs at Burnaby Art Gallery, 6344 Deer Lake Ave. Info: 604-297-4422, www.burnabyartgallery.ca.
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Friday, May 2 to Sunday, May 4
Art Squared, the New West Artists' third annual exhibit featuring one-foot-square artworks, plus companion exhibition Music Framed, on the second floor at River Market, 810 Quayside Dr., New West. Opening reception Friday, 6 to 8 p.m., and exhibition runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. over the weekend. Admission free. Info: www.newwestartists.com.
Friday, May 2
Drag show, starring Mz. Adrien and Friends, 9 p.m. at the Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St., New West, doors open at 7 p.m. Info: www.theheritagegrill.com.
Saturday, May 3
Phoenix Chamber Choir performs Fleur, its spring concert, at Queens Avenue United Church, 7:30 p.m., with repertoire ranging from baroque to contemporary, under director Graeme Langager. Tickets at the door: $20 regular, $15 students/seniors and $10 children. Info: 604-522-1606.
Sunday, May 4
Led Zepagain, tribute to Led Zeppelin, 7:30 p.m. at the Massey Theatre, $32.50 plus service charges. Buy at 604-521-5050 or tickets.masseytheatre.com.
Poetic Justice, 3 to 5 p.m. in the backroom at Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St., hosted by Deborah Kelly and featuring Alan Girling, Jude Neale and Bonnie Nish, plus open mike. Info: www.poeticjustice.ca.
Book launch, for Amyot, by author Guy Allen, 1 to 3 p.m. at Renaissance books, 43 Sixth St., downtown New Westminster. See www.guyallen.ca for more about the book.
Tuesday, May 6
WordPlay, hosted by Royal City Literary Arts Society, 7 p.m. in the back room at the Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St., New West. Wrap your mind around provided writing prompts and try your hand at generating some fabulous first drafts. Part of a free monthly drop-in series - not a critique group, just have some fun. Bring writing tools and paper.
Saturday, May 10
Songs of Sinatra, a tribute by Rick Valiant, with special tribute guests and the Blue Morris Swing Band, doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 8 p.m. in the Grand Room at the Columbia, 530 Columbia St., 604-525-2262, www.thecolumbia.ca. Tickets $25.
Book launch, by Eileen Kernaghan, for Sophie, In Shadow, her ninth young adult historical fantasy. Guests welcome, book-signing included, 1:30 p.m. at the Arts Council of New Westminster, Centennial Lodge, Queen's Park.
The Beladeans, play three sets, 8 p.m. to midnight at the Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St., free, all ages. Info: www.thebeladeans.com, www.theheritagegrill.com.
Sunday, May 11
Poetic Justice, 3 to 5 p.m. in the backroom at Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St., hosted by Sho Wiley and featuring Carleigh Baker, Frances Cabahug and Paul Falardeau, with open mike. Info: www.poeticjustice.ca.
Mother's Day concert, by the New Westminster Symphony Orchestra, 2 p.m. at the Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave., featuring cello soloist Tate Zawadiuk, conducted by Jin Zhang. Admission by donation. Info: www.nwso.ca.
Tuesday, May 13
Uploading Ebooks, a free workshop presented by Royal City Literary Arts Society and the New Westminster Public Library, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the library, 716 Sixth Ave. Perry Wilson shows how to get your book into Smashwords, Amazon, Kobo and other online retailers. Workshop is useful for self-publishers and indie publishers. Register at 604-527-4667 or email [email protected].
Wednesday, May 14
Short story open mike, presented by the Royal City Literary Arts Society, with guest host Deborah Kelly, 7 to 9 p.m. in the backstage room at the Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St. Bring short stories or read from your book, journal or essays, Storytellers welcome. Check out www.rclas.com for details.
Saturday, May 17
The Poetry Wars, a poetry study group hosted by Carol Shillibeer, meets monthly to discuss the Canadian poetry scene, with at-home study and reading. At the Heritage Grill backroom, 447 Columbia St., 4 to 6 p.m. Info: [email protected].
Saturday, May 24
Sixth annual Bloom Art Auction, at Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre, featuring traditional Japanese daruma, with auction, canapés, cash bar, entertainment, $25, or $20 for members, centre.nikkeiplace.org/daruma-art/
All That Tap, West Coast Tap Dance Collective's annual Tap Day celebration, honouring Peggy Peat, with more than 105 dancers from around the Lower Mainland, plus guest artists, MC'd by Jeff Hyslop, 7:30 p.m. at Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave. Tickets $25 general, $20 for collective members. Call 604-521-5050 or buy through www.masseytheatre.com.
Sunday, May 25
Poetic Justice, 3 to 5 p.m. in the backroom at Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St., hosted by Franci Louann and featuring Lee Johnson, Susan McCaslin and Russell Thornton, with open mike. Info: www.poeticjustice.ca.
Saturday, May 31
Writing and Healing: a four-hour interactive workshop hosted by Sherry Duggal, presented by the Royal City Literary Arts Society, 737 Sixth St. Journal and pen required. Members $20, non-members $35. Seating limited. Pre-registration required: email [email protected].
Tuesday, June 17
Lifestory Writing: Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary, a workshop hosted by Sylvia Taylor, presented by the Royal City Literary Arts Society at the new Westminster Public Library, 716 Sixth Ave., free. Info: www.rclas.com.
Saturday, June 21
Haiku and Beyond, a workshop hosted by Terry Ann Carter, presented by the Royal City Literary Arts Society, 2 to 4 p.m. at 737 Sixth St. Members $10, non-members $20. Seating limited, pre-register by email at [email protected].
ONGOING
Poetic Justice, with featured poets and open mike session, runs Sundays, 3 to 5 p.m. in the back room at the Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St., New West. Check out www.poeticjustice.ca for schedule and details.
Call for artists, to submit work for Bring It Together: With Sculpture, a juried show of three-dimensional artwork at Burnaby Arts Council's Deer Lake Gallery. Submissions accepted until May 30 for show to run Aug. 16 to Sept. 6. Check out details and application form at www.burnabyartscouncil.org.
Burnaby Art Gallery off-site exhibitions at Burnaby Public Library branches: Portals of Time: The Best of Famous Empty Sky, underway at Bob Prittie (Metrotown) library branch to June 8; and Stuart McCall, photography, at the Mcgill Library, 4595 Albert St., to June 9. Info: www.burnabyartgallery.ca.
Burnaby Writers Society, 47th annual writing contest, on the theme of Wood. One-page submissions of prose or poetry welcome. Prizes of $200, $100, $50, plus honourable mentions, for work in any form or genre. $5 per entry, or $10 for three entries. Deadline: May 31. See www.burnabywritersnews.blogspot.com.
Songwriters open mike, every Sunday evening 7 to 9 p.m. at the Heritage Grill, in the backroom at 447 Columbia St., New Westminster, hosted by Enrico Renz and Lawren Nemeth. Bring songs to join in, or just stop by to listen. Poets also welcome for collaboration. Info: www.rclas.com.
Cameron Seniors Sunshine Sing-along group meets on alternating Mondays, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Cameron Recreation Centre, 9523 Cameron St. Sing along to old-time favourites with friends. Volunteer musicians sought - pianos, drums and other instruments. A piano and a drum set are available for use. For info, call Sue McIntyre at 604-297-4453 or email [email protected]
Line dancing, Mondays at 10 a.m. at Deer Lake United Church Hall, 5135 Sperling Ave. Beginners welcome. Call Georgie at 604-522-5647 for information.
Line dancing at Capitol Hill Community Hall, 361 Howard Ave., with new classes for beginners on Fridays, 10 a.m. to noon, starting Nov. 15. Call 604-655-8795 or 778-883-2628 for information.
Write From the Heart, a writers' group led by Ruth Kozak, 10 a.m. to noon at WAVES coffee shops, Begbie and Columbia streets, New Westminster, looking at memoir writing, some fiction and some poetry. New members always welcome.
Burnaby Scottish Country Dance Club, meets Mondays 7 to 10 p.m. at the Scandinavian Community Centre, 6540 Thomas St., Burnaby. New members welcome. No partners needed, no experience required. For info, drop in or call Gerry at 604-451-1161 or Rosemary, 604-298-6552. Info: www.rscdsvancouver.org/burnaby.html.
Modern square dancing, give it a try on Monday evenings at the Charles Rummel Hall, 3680 Lozells Ave., 7:30 p.m. No experience needed; come alone or with a partner or friends. Info: 604-939-2789.
Scottish Country Dance Class, Mondays at 7:30 p.m. at Edmonds Community Centre, 7282 Kingsway, 604-298-6552.
Scandinavian Folk Dancers, Wednesdays at the Scandinavian Centre, 6540 Thomas St., Burnaby, 6004-685-7405.
Melodious Mandolins, looking for new musicians, meeting at various locations in Burnaby, 604-433-2762.
Dance For Fun Club, the "Best Little Dance Club in Town," offers rock and roll nights Mondays, swing nights Wednesdays and ballroom nights Saturdays, all at the Heritage Hall, 728 12th St., New Westminster, Doors open at 6:30 p.m., beginner-intermediate lesson at 7:30 p.m., dance at 8:30 p.m. Info: [email protected] or 604-726-0153. Dances are $10.
Burnaby International Folk Dancers, meets Tuesday nights from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Charles Rummel Centre, 3630 Lozells, Burnaby. Learn folk dances from around the world in a friendly club environment. All levels welcome, no partners needed, drop-ins welcome. Info: 604-436-9475.
Writers Discovery Group, meets on the second Wednesday of the month from September to June, 10 a.m. to noon on the lower floor of the library, 716 Sixth Ave. All welcome. Chance to share your short stories, poems, articles or drafts of novels or plays in a group setting for feedback.
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Send your arts and entertainment listings to [email protected], or [email protected].
