We're hoping this stretch of beautiful weather will last so get outdoors and enjoy the autumn scenes in the Tri-Cities. But, if the liquid sunshine arrives, there's also plenty to do indoors this weekend at libraries, art galleries, theatres and sports rinks.
TODAY: Friday, Oct. 5
TIME WITH BABE
Caregivers of young ones can discover the pleasure of reading with their babies at the Terry Fox Library (2470 Mary Hill Rd.) as part of the branch's babytime program on Fridays from 10:15 to 10:40 a.m. Cuddle with your baby as you listen to nursery rhymes and stories, and mingle with other new parents. To reserve a spot, call the library at 604-927-7999. Meanwhile, Place Maillardville (1200 Cartier Ave.) is offering its Baby's First Year program, which is subsidized by the United Way of the Lower Mainland and B.C.'s ministry of children and families. The drop-in session for adults and their babies runs on Fridays until Dec. 14 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Heritage Room. Call 604-933-6166 or visit placemaillardville.ca.
HE SCORES!
There's no NHL hockey to catch on television with the players locked out so head over to Coquitlam's Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex (633 Poirier St.) and cheer on our Junior A hockey club, the Coquitlam Express, as they battle the Chilliwack Chiefs at 7 p.m. Visit coquitlamexpress.ca for more information and tickets.
THESPIANS
See Maria, Brody and their friends spend a crazy four years at the challenging A.B.S. school in the production Hey Maria, It's An A.B.S. Story! at Port Moody's Inlet Theatre (100 Newport Dr.) tonight and tomorrow night at 7 p.m. Tickets at $8/$7/$6 are available by emailing [email protected].
PIZZA ON ICE
Kids aged seven to 10 can lace up their skates for the city of Port Coquitlam's Skate, Movie, Pizza night from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Port Coquitlam recreation complex (2150 Wilson Ave.). The cost is $15 and pre-registration is required by calling 604-927-PLAY.
Saturday, Oct. 6
TOWNSITE TOUR
The Port Moody Heritage Society is organizing its annual Ioco Days Festival, a free family event sponsored in part by Canadian Heritage. Explore the old townsite and, at 1 and 3 p.m., see Rebel Haunt Theatre as it presents a production called Hometown, an interactive play set in the 1930s. Stay tuned as the festival continues on Sunday, Oct. 14 with Ioco Ghost Town Days, from noon to 4 p.m. Visit www.portmoodymuseum.org.
CLASSES FOR TEENS
Teens aged 11 and up can get certified with the Canadian Red Cross' babysitter training by signing up in courses starting today at Coquitlam's Poirier community centre (640 Poirier St.). Also, the city is offering its Young Chefs on the Run program for teens aged 11 to 14. The class, which starts today, features nutritional meal preparation and physical activity. Participants will create their own recipe book as well. To register for either program, visit www.coquitlam.ca/programs or call 604-927-4FUN.
B.C. IN PAINT
Take a tour through the Port Moody Arts Centre (2425 St. John's St.), which on Thursday unveiled its new exhibits for the month. West Vancouver residents Marguerite Mahy and Lynn Webster show their work jointly for the first time in a series called For the Love of Colour, which highlights their disparate painting styles for the common theme of B.C. landscapes. Also, Rose Kapp has her pen and ink drawings up at the centre in a collection called Classical Critters. And Rachel Ashe's paper installation called Cut. Fold. Repeat. is in the Cabinet of Curiosity. PMAC is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit pomoarts.ca.
Sunday, Oct. 7
GET READY
Oct. 7 to 13 is Fire Prevention Week so now is the time to prepare your home fire escape plan and to get your family ready for a possible emergency. This includes making a map of your dwelling, marking a door and window in every room for an escape exit, and choosing a designated meeting place outside. Also, test your smoke alarm. Visit http://www.portcoquitlam.ca/City_Hall/City_Departments/Fire___Emergency_Services/Public_Education_Services/Fire_Prevention.htm.
LOCAL ARTISTS
Wander through the Port Moody Public Library (100 Newport Dr.) - not for books but to admire the art on the walls this month by the Blackberry Artists' Society. The co-op of local artists also sells its work in the gift shop at the Port Moody Arts Centre (2425 St. John's St.). Visit www.blackberrygiftshop.ca. Meanwhile, at Port Coquitlam's Leigh Square Community Arts Village (beside city hall), there's a display until Oct. 30 by Tri-City artists Colin James Craig, Skai Fowler, Heidi Lambert, Ranjan Sen and Gerry Thompson. Their show coincides with the A View From the Water's Edge series - an intermunicipal art partnership between Leigh Square, PMAC and the Evergreen Cultural Centre that looks at connecting waterways. Evergreen also has Sylvie Roussel-Janssens' How Deep Is Your Lake, in its lobby (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) this month.
GO JEN GO
She's made it into the Top 7 and now Coquitlam's Jennifer Gillis is in tight competition to be cast as Dorothy in Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage production of The Wizard of Oz in Toronto in December. Catch the 16-year-old Gleneagle secondary student sing on the CBC reality show Over the Rainbow at 8 p.m. then cast your vote to send her into next week's audition round. Visit www.cbc.ca/overtherainbow/.
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