This weekend, the Water's Edge Festival (WE) takes centre stage. But it'll have some stiff competition for your entertainment dollars from a host of other Tri-City events.
Friday, Feb. 25
COQUITLAM CARNAVAL
Carnaval de Fatima is a fun, family-friendly annual fundraiser for Our Lady of Fatima Elementary School from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the school (315 Walker St., Coquitlam). The event will feature a silent auction, bingo, concession, cake walk and, of course, carnival games.
WE: KIDS CHOIR
The Coastal Sound Music Academy's Children's Choir will perform at 7 p.m. at the Evergreen Cultural Centre's Studio Theatre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). They will be joined by special guests from that afternoon's children's workshop choir. Tickets for the event are $10 at the Evergreen Box Office or by calling 604-927-6555.
YOUTH DANCE
A night of dancing, door prizes, carnival games and music from a professional DJ runs from 6:15 to 9:15 p.m. at Hyde Creek rec centre (1379 Laurier Ave., Port Coquitlam). The Jelly Bean Dance is fully supervised by parks and recreation staff but parents are invited to attend. Tickets are $7 at the door or $5 in advance at Hyde Creek or the PoCo rec complex. For more information, call 604-927-7946 or 604-927-7970.
HOBBS AT THE HOSPICE
Emerging Vancouver singer-songwriter Gillian Hobbs will perform acoustic songs from her debut album "Something to Write Home About" at the Gathering Place at Leigh Square (1100-2253 Leigh Sq., Port Coquitlam). This is Hobbs' third appearance as part of the Crossroads Hospice Society's Unplugged Coffeehouse series. Admission is $5, with doors opening at 7 p.m. for an open stage at 7:30 p.m., followed by Hobbs at 9 p.m.. For more information, email info@crossroadshospice.bc.ca.
Saturday, Feb. 26
WE: BALLET
Ballet Kelowna returns to the Evergreen stage with the premiere of Actions Consequences, a newly commissioned work by Canadian choreographer Gioconda Barbuto set to the music of Montreal composer Michael Oesterle. Other works in the program include those by Quebec composers Pierre Mercure and Brian Macdonald as well as Duncan's Brydon Paige. The program is rounded out with "In Stride," a light-hearted modern work to the pulsating guitar music of Glenn Branca, followed by artistic director David Lehay's "Dvorak Dances," set to the czech composer's popular Slavonic Dances. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show range from $10 to $38 and are available at the Evergreen box office, online at evergreenculturalcentre.ca or by calling 604-927-6555.
SITAR HERO
Music of the World on the Sitar is the latest faculty concert from the talented teaching staff at Place des Arts (1120 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam). Starting at 7:30 p.m., the concert will feature virtuoso James Hamilton on sitar, accompanied by some guest artists on a trip around the globe from South Asia to the Middle East to Ireland. Tickets are $13.50 plus tax for adults, $11 for students and seniors, and are available by calling Place des Arts at 604-664-1636.
FANTASIA 2011
Pianist and organist Kevin Wong performs classical music from the movies Fantasia 2000, V for Vendetta and the animated series Tom and Jerry - alongside works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart and Rossini. Video clips will accompany Wong's performances at St. Catherine's Anglican Church (2211 Prairie Ave., Port Coquitlam). Admission is by donation, with a $15 suggested donation to support the church and its music program.
SCRAPBOOK CROP
Baker Drive elementary school is hosting a 12-hour scrapbooking meet-up from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at the school (885 Baker Dr., Coquitlam). The cost is $45 and the event will feature not just scrapbook-making materials and how-to's but, also, food, prizes and vendors of all kinds. For tickets, register online at scrappingaway.com/baker.
LIVE AT THE FOX
Hailing from south of the border, children's favourites Lisa and Linda! once again join forces with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to present Tiny Tots: Garden Full of Songs at 10 a.m. and again at 11:30 a.m. at The Terry Fox Theatre (1260 Riverwood Gate, Port Coquitlam). Join characters Kitty Kitty and Bela the Bunny in an interactive musical tale featuring the works of Bartok. Tickets are $15 for adults, $6.25 for children and are available at vancouversymphony.ca.
Sunday, Feb. 27
WE: DEE DANIELS
Jazz impresario and singing sensation Dee Daniels gives a free 10:30 a.m. workshop followed by a two-hour performance beginning at 2 p.m. at the Evergreen Cultural Centre's Studio Theatre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam). All ages and singing abilities are welcome to this workshop, which has the simple aim of "making a joyful noise through song." The workshop, which runs until noon, will provide a brief history of blues and gospel music and vocally demonstrate the evolution of these styles. Then Daniels will teach her own vocal techniques of the "Rose Breath" and "Numbered Activation" before showing participants how to vocally express the emotions of a song. For her 2 p.m. performance, Daniels' four-octave range voice will be joined by a trio featuring piano, bass and drums. Tickets for the show are $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniors and are available online at evergreenculturalcentre.ca, in person at the Evergreen box office or by phone at 604-927-6555.
TINSELTOWN IN THE TRI-CITIES
Watch the 83rd annual Academy Awards in the high-style of a real Oscar party at Coquitlam city hall (3000 Guildford Way). The transformed city hall will play host to a red-carpet soirée complete with paparazzi, champagne, prizes for picking the winners in each category and a big screen to watch Hollywood's biggest party. Tickets to the family-friendly A-list event are $65 with all proceeds benefiting the Crossroads Hospice Society, Share Family Services and the Society for Community Development. The party starts at 4:30 p.m. and goes until 9:30 p.m. For more information, email one of the three host divas: Port Moody Coun. Diana Dilworth at diana@dianadilworth.ca, Polly Krier at uspollyk@shaw.ca or Coquitlam Coun. Selina Robinson at srobinson@coquitlam.ca.
ANTIQUE APPRAISALS
Well-known appraiser Al Bowen will be assessing the value of your antique treasures at the Port Moody Station Museum (2734 Murray St., Port Moody) from 1 to 3 p.m. Cost of the appraisals is $15 for two items. For more information, call 604-939-1648 or email pmmuseum@telus.net.
Please send Things To Do guide submissions to tcoyne@tricitynews.com
