This weekend brings you good weather and a slew of exciting events — you get to be part of a run that ends in a beer garden, listen to music that’s influenced by Asian, South and North American cultures and support a fundraiser to help out cute cockatoos.
Saturday, May 6
Beer Run
Local brewery Steel & Oak is calling people to join its first-ever annual run this weekend. While runners can warm up for the 5 km jog around Queen’s Park (two loops) at 11 a.m, those who plan to stand by and cheer can do so along the sixth avenue hill stretch. Runners, the cheering squad and any others who would like a beer, Mexican street food (by Lucha Libre Taqueria) and coffee by Little Miss Coffee Co. can show up at the beer garden that would be open at Queen’s Park between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Queen’s Park
Details: Steel & Oak Instagram
Plant sale fundraiser
If you are on a plant-buying spree, head to this sale and get to help a parrot — all while sprucing up your garden. A New West resident is organizing a plant sale to raise funds for Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary. Funds from the sale go towards providing food and shelter for 120 macaws, finches and cockatoos among other birds that are housed at the bird sanctuary waiting for their forever homes.
When: 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Where:1522 London St.
Details: Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary Instagram
Jazz music
Here’s a concert that brings the sound of dan bau, a Vietnamese one-string zither; the erhu, a Chinese fiddle; the quena, an Andean flute, and the jazz guitar on one stage. This striking mashup is all thanks to composer and multi-instrumentalist Huu Bac Quach who decided to blend his Vietnamese and Chinese heritages with jazz music, and form a band with prominent musicians in the Montreal jazz scene. The band will serve up music that’s influenced by Asian, North and South American cultures.
When: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Where: Anvil Theatre, 777 Columbia St.
Details: Tickets are $35 to $45 plus service charges. Buy them through Anvil Centre’s website
Sunday, May 7
Sonnets for the soul
Watch a poem come to life right in front you at this event. New West’s poet laureate Elliott Slinn will be at the children’s bookstore Kinder Books on Sunday afternoon, dishing out poems on his typewriter for anyone who likes the idea of custom verses about themselves or their dear ones. If you are at the store between 1 and 3 p.m., you get to walk out with a freshly-typed poem in hand. The poet will accept donations.
When: 1 to 3 p.m.
Where: Kinder Books, 810 Quayside Dr.
Details: Kinder Books Instagram
Expressive Art Therapy
New West Hospice Society is launching a new expressive art therapy series this weekend at Arrieta Art Studio. The free grief support event will provide a safe space for anyone to explore grief through expressive art, which, as per the event description, is a “therapeutic practice” that integrates healing with creative expression. To register, send an email to [email protected].
When: 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Arrieta Art Studio, 707 Front St.
