There may be cooler temperatures on the horizon but don’t worry, here are plenty of ways to keep the whole family busy indoors this weekend.
Friday, May 22
BE AMAZED
If you’ve ever been a fan of David Copperfield’s jaw-dropping stunts, then tonight’s show at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) is right up your alley. In Vitaly: An Evening of Wonders, magician Vitaly Beckman takes audiences beyond the limits of imagination with tricks and illusions that are truly stunning. Tickets are at evergreenculturalcentre.ca or 604-927-6555.
GET THE BAND BACK TOGETHER
The Blues Brothers Too Showband are “on a mission from God” to entertain crowds at the Terry Fox Theatre (1260 Riverwood Gate, PoCo) for a Terry Fox Ravens football fundraiser. This high-energy band pays homage to the venerable on-screen duo of Jake and Elwood (Dan Akroyd and John Belushi) with songs like Shake a Tail Feather, Jailhouse Rock and I Can’t Turn You Loose. They’ll be joined by opening act Double Overtime for a night of rhythm & blues, soul, country and more. Tickets are $25 at www.brownpapertickets.com or 1-800-838-3006.
GIGGLES FOR GRADY
This night of laughter is all about side-splitting comedy by the widely acclaimed Jane Stanton, a veteran on the comedic festival circuit across the country and in the U.S. Proceeds from the event at the Port Moody Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Dr.) go to the Michael Cuccione Foundation to honour Grady William Killam, a three-year-old boy who lost his battle with cancer in March 2014. Tickets are $43.50 at www.portmoody.ca.
Saturday, May 23
SWAP MEET
Find gently used kids’ clothes, books, toys and household items at the Glen Pine Pavilion’s (1200 Glen Pine Court, Coquitlam) swap meet from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free.
MORE BARGAINS
Get your maps ready, gather up your small bills and change and hit the road this morning to check out more than 160 Coquitlam garage sales in the annual city-wide event. To plan your route visit www.coquitlam.ca/garagesale for a list or map layout of addresses hosting sales.
FREE WORKOUT
Get your legs moving and your heart pumping at a free outdoor fitness class at Port Coquitlam’s Lions Park (2300 Lions Way). Certified personal trainers will take participants through a fun work-out that includes tug-of-war, relay races, obstacle courses and more. Work-outs are designed for every fitness level and is open to everyone. It starts at 10 a.m. (registration at 9:45 a.m.) and participants are asked to wear comfortable clothing, appropriate footwear and bring a water bottle.
SEE CITY WORKS
Ever wonder about a city’s inner workings, and what’s happening underground? Port Moody and CUPE Local 825 host a free open house with displays, hands-on activities and more for the whole family. Learn how water gets to your home, watch worms wiggling through compost, get up close with a vacuum truck and, for the brave folks, check out the sewer camera. Kids will be wowed by the dump trucks, back hoes and recycling trucks as well as the free face painting, clown and hay ride around the works yard. The open house runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the public works yard (3250 Murray St.); enjoy the barbecue with a donation for the Share food bank.
BEE ARTY
Want to make some sculpture art with flowers? Head to Coquitlam’s Inspiration Garden (Guildford Way at Pipeline Road) for some bee eco-sculpture planting. Once it’s finished, this living piece of art will be on display at the garden all summer long. The free event runs from 10 a.m. to noon.
GET INTO NATURE
Learn about the wealth of native vegetation in Port Coquitlam and its importance to the local salmon-bearing creek, as well as the damage caused by invasive plants, at a free nature walk starting from the Hyde Creek recreation centre (1379 Laurier Ave.) at 10:30 a.m.
EXPLORE THAILAND
Visit the Land of Smiles at the Coquitlam Public Library (1169 Pinetree Way) at an event hosted by the Thai consulate office in Vancouver. It includes a tourism seminar at 1 p.m., Thai food sampling at 2 p.m. and a screening of the movie The Overture, about the life of a Thai palace musician, at 3 p.m. Visit www.thaiconsulatevancouver.ca for more information.
ART AFTER DARK
Enjoy an evening of art that’s just for teens at Place des Arts’ (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam) inaugural Art After Dark. Participants can flex their creative muscles in workshops like hip hop dance, spoken word, photography or visual arts. Each workshop lasts 50 minutes (participants can choose two) and at the end of the night everyone gets together for a final performance jam. Admission is free but pre-registration is required at www.brownpapertickets.com or 604-664-1636. Visit www.placedesarts.ca for more information.
DON’T MENTION IT
Fashion historian Ivan Sayers presents The Unmentionables Fashion Show at the Terry Fox Theatre (1260 Riverwood Gate, PoCo) at 7 p.m. This Port Coquitlam Heritage & Cultural Society show will feature a unique look at the changing trends in undergarments and how they’ve been influenced by historical forces. Proceeds benefit the heritage society, Terry Fox Theatre and BC Cancer Society. Tickets are $20 at www.terryfoxtheatre.org.
PAY TRIBUTE
Travel back to 1968, when the king of rock ‘n’ roll, Elvis Presley, made his man-in-black comeback. Tribute artist Eli Williams and the all-star band Memphis Sound will recreate Elvis’ iconic television performance at the Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Dr.) in Elvis ‘68. Tickets are $42.50 at www.portmoody.ca.
Sunday, May 24
FARMERS MARKET
Soak up spring’s garden bounty at the Coquitlam Farmers Market at the Dogwood Pavilion parking lot (624 Poirier St., Coquitlam), from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Loads of fresh fruit and veggies, bread, cheese and other goodies are waiting for your creative cooking inspiration. Visit www.makebakegrow.com for more information about workshops planned for this weekend’s market day.
RADIO DAY
Radio aficionados can learn about CARESS, the organization that will provide additional emergency communication for Coquitlam in case of emergency, at an open house at Riverview (next to BC Ambulance Services) from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. On display will be technology that can send and receive messages on a variety of frequencies, three 80-foot communication towers, antennas, radios and the new radio room.
