PlanetEye

Been in and out of town lately, so while I am on top of the events going on in Vancouver, I haven't had a whole lot of time to write about them.  One of them being a very big annual summer Vancouver festival.  That's right.  The Vancouver International Jazz Festival had its big kick off this weekend.  It kicked off on Friday night with Herbie Hancock.  I know, I am lame for not mentioning it before hand.  Last night, one of my favorite bands, Pink Martini played - and I am really kicking myself that I missed them.

But there is plenty more fantastic artists to see- as there is an entire week left of this festival.  For instance the Dave Brubeck Quartet (of Take 5 fame) is playing tomorrow night at the Orpheum.  The John Scofield Trio is playing at The Centre on Tuesday evening, and Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz Lincoln Centre Orchestra will be performing at The Orpheum on the night of June 27th.

Besides them, there are performances all over the city, at all times of the day.  You can pick up a schedule at your local Starbucks - or visit the Coastal Jazz and Blues Society website at http://www.coastaljazz.ca 

Now that it’s officially summer, hopefully the weather is going to start cooperating with us.  When its not too wet out, this season is great for bike riding.  There are tons of trails in Vancouver, and if you are a mountain biking enthusiast Vancouver and the North Shore is a great place to try out your bike.  

 However, if you are like me and like to play it a little on the safe side- then there is a great place to peddle.  It’s the Seawall at Stanley Park.  The Seawall is 5.5 miles of paved trail -which is shared with pedestrians (so be careful of them).

Don’t have a bike? That’s ok, there are tons of places along Denman St or Georgia St to go rent a cruiser.  For a few dollars, you can get some great exercise in one of the most beautiful places in Canada.

Starting next Friday (June 20th) and playing for 2 days at the Vancouver International Film  Centre.  This will be the second annual festival.  Last year, they showed 10 films, and all films were sold out.  This year, they are showing 6 films with the theme Footprints of Youth.

The 6 films being shown are:

My Football Summer

The Most Distant Course

Island Etude

Shonenko

Keeping Watch

Love’s Lone Flower 

Tickets cost $7.00 plus a $1.00 membership.  For more information on what is sure to be an interesting film festival, go to http://ipixels.net/twff/Home-En.html 

By now, you have probably heard about the crazy big 3 day music festival (to be held July 25-27) in Pemberton BC.  Its going to be one insane weekend, that features today’s musical acts.

 Here is the weekend’s breakdown.

Friday 

Nine Inch Nails, Interpol, Serj Tankian, Wolfmother, Metric, Kathleen Edwards, the Secret Machines, Shearwater, Minus the Bear, Grand Ole Party, and Annie Stela.

Saturday 

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, the Tragically Hip, the Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket, Sam Roberts Band, Black Mountain, Buck 65, Brazilian Girls, Mates of State, Carolina Liar, and Low Vs Diamond.

Sunday 

Coldplay, Jay-Z, Death Cab for Cutie, N.E.R.D., Vampire Weekend, Matisyahu, Wintersleep, Inward Eye, the Fiery Furnaces, the Airborne Toxic, Event, and Monte Negro.

Starting on Saturday June 13th, you will be able to purchase 1 day passes for approx $150.00

For more information go to www.pembertonfestival.com

**concert listing information provided by The Georgia Straight. 

While the entire world is watching Sex and the City, and the new Indiana Jones movies, why not introduce your kids to great cinema at Pacific Cinematheque.

For those of you who are new to this site, and have not yet been told of my love for this theatre, let me gush for a moment.  I have a huge love for geeky movies.  Foreign films - and anything off the beaten track is a big thing for me.  Which is often why I end up going to the movies alone (my friends would rather spend 2 hrs watching a blockbuster - or even watch paint dry).  One of the most popular festivals that Pacific Cinematheque puts on is the Samurai Festival (and it is not to be missed).

 But back to the Sunday Cinema series.  This is a new series for Pacific Cinematheque.  Its all about introducing great movies to families.  Now of course not all movies will be suitable for younger audiences (they will not be showing Cars or Sponge Bob- for that you can stay home and pop in a dvd).  But they will be showing quality movies.

June 8th @ 1pm will be the first showing of this series, where they will be screening The Princess Bride (directed by Rob Reiner).  The education dept will be on hand for an after the movie discussion, games and activities. 

Looking for a regular Saturday night date?  Can't stand going to yet another bar?  The people in that you used to look over in the produce aisle are looking as haggard and wilted spinach?

Perhaps there is another way to meet your dream date.  And no it is not the internet (which I suppose could also be a useful tool).  I am talking about speed dating.  And it has come to Vancouver in full force.

 If you are interested in meeting 15 other people (in one evening) who are also looking for a regular date, then you might want to consider looking into the Rendezvous Club.  You never know, you could meet your special someone...and if the date turns out to be horrendous, well think of it this way - you only lost 5 minutes of your life.  Certainly could be much worse.

 There looks like there are speed dating nights every couple of days at various locations around town.  check out the website for more details http://rclub.ca 

By now, I am sure all of you have heard about the devastating loss of that the Museum of Anthropology at UBC has experienced.  The theft of 15 pieces, including 12 works of the great Haida artist Bill Reid.  These works are culturally priceless.

While this loss is very tragic, I for one am hoping for a positive outcome; there are other exhibits at the MOA that deserve our attention.

Here is a list of what can currently be seen at the Museum of Anthropology:

*Seeing is Believing -an archive of photographs taken from all over the world.  Earliest photograph is dated from 1900 and runs to up to today.

*A Partnership of Peoples - Witness the MOA’s plans for expansion, including a window peek of the design studio - and see where all the action takes place.

*Lyle Wilson Great Hall Carving -  A carving project found in the great hall, by master carver Lyle Wilson.  This carving is of a mask, involving a "weegit".

*Explore Our Drawers -  An exhibit especially for the kids.  Objects brought out from storage, highlighting art and artifacts from Africa, Asia, South America, and Oceania

 Lots of really cool stuff to be seen (and touched).