The Surrey Party for the Planet, one of BC’s largest Earth Day celebrations, is happening this Saturday, April 26, 2014 at The Plaza at New City Hall. John and I have been to every Party for the Planet as I’ve had the pleasure of being a sponsor every year since the event began in 2011. It’s free, it’s fun, it’s family friendly, and there’s always a great entertainment lineup. If you weren’t already convinced to join us on Saturday, here are…
5 Reasons to Visit Surrey Party for the Planet
Source: City of Surrey.
City Hall Open House
The Grand Opening of the New City Hall will also take place during Party for the Planet starting at 2:00pm. There will be opening remarks by Mayor Dianne Watts and Council, a ribbon cutting, cupcakes, tours (from 10:00am to 1:00pm), and a public art unveiling.
Lights at the 2013 P4TP
Music
Wander between the Main Stage, Children’s Stage, Atrium Stage, and Centre Stage throughout the full day of live music, from the Kwantlen Glee Club, Jodi Proznick Quartet, and Surrey Strings to Jeremy Fisher, Jordan Klassen, Dear Rouge, Andrew Allen, and Said The Whale. Check out the full lineup online.
Entertainment for Kids
Visit Kids World for face painting and eco-themed crafts, and check out the Children’s Stage – Library Schedule for entertainment from Mad Science, Juggler Mike Battie, Storytime, Surrey Libraries’ Poetry Contest Winner, Raptors Ridge Birds of Prey Demo, Robin and the Magical Tree: Music & Puppets. Bobs & Lolo will also be on the Main Stage twice.
Tree Sale
Returning this year is the popular Tree Sale with $20 trees ready to be planted. You can also find the Surrey Urban Farmers Market, food producers, and artisans in Farmer’s Alley, Sustainability Way House, the Nature Nook, and other featured activity areas.
Mini Donuts and More
If you don’t arrive hungry, you’ll soon be craving some of the tasty treats being served up at Party for the Planet. You’ll find Poutine by Big Red Poutine and authentic polish food by Old Country Pierogi on site along with artisan ice-cream by Rocky Point Ice Cream, gourmet burgers, corn on the cob, corn dogs, coffee, mini donuts, and take-home snacks from the Honeybee Centre and Sweet Thea Bakery.
Surrey Party for the Planet takes place Saturday April 26, 2014 from 10:00am to 9:00pm at Surrey City Hall Plaza, 13450 104 Avenue, Surrey. It is accessible by transit (Surrey Centre Station) and a bike valet will be on site.
Brentwood in Burnaby recently launched a campaign to spread some cheer on what they’ve dubbed Feel Good Fridays.
Every Friday between 12:00pm and 2:00pm, up to 10 lucky guests will learn there is such a thing as a free lunch when Brentwood’s guest services team swoops in and surprises them by picking up the tab, no strings attached. They’ll have DJ Juice providing a Top 40 and old school soundtrack during your shopping experience along with free chair massages. If you’re around Centre Court or the Food Court on a Feel Good Friday, it might just be your lucky day.
To spread even more cheer Brentwood is offering up a $50 gift card to one lucky Miss604 reader to enjoy a relaxing shopping experience and to treat a friend to lunch on the house.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
Brentwood, on the corner of Willingdon and Lougheed (and at Brentwood SkyTrain station) is home to 110 stores and services including Sears and London Drugs. Follow Brentwood on Twitter and Facebook for more information about their shops, services, and special events.
I will draw one contest winner at random from all entries at 9:00pm on Wednesday, April 30, 2014.
Update The winner is @chat2michelle!
Created in 2006, Terminal City Rollergirls (“TCRG”) is a member-owned and operated, non-profit organization consisting of close to 100 skaters, a team of sharp officials, incredible volunteers, generous sponsors, and an army of passionate fans. The Terminal City Rollergirls 2014 season is well underway but there’s still plenty of action coming up over the next few months.
Terminal City Rollergirls Schedule
For the first time in nearly three years, Vancouver’s Terminal City Rollergirls will be welcoming fans back to New Westminster’s Royal City Curling Club for its next two regular-season, house-team roller derby doubleheaders.
Game 2
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Royal City Curling Club, New Westminster
Doors at 4:00, whistle at 5:00pm
Faster Pussycats vs Riot Girls
Bad Reputations vs Public Frenemy
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Game 3
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Royal City Curling Club, New Westminster
Doors at 4:00, whistle at 5:00pm
Riot Girls vs Public Frenemy
Faster Pussycats vs Bad Reputations
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The famous DougieDog diner truck will be on site for both of the Sunday events serving up hotdogs, and a beer garden will be hosted upstairs in the RCCC lounge, providing a seated window area for audiences to watch the action from a bird’s-eye view. The club is likely to reach capacity quickly, so patrons are reminded to arrive early and bring a chair as club chairs are limited.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids aged 6-12, and available by cash at the door, or online. Kids aged five and under are free.
SemiFinals Sunday, June 15, 2014
Royal City Curling Club, New Westminster
Doors at 4:00, whistle at 5:00pm
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Championships Saturday, July 12, 2014
Minoru Arena, Richmond
Doors at 5:00pm, whistle at 6:00pm
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There is also an all-stars match-up on Friday, July 11, 2014. Terminal City All-Stars take on Houston Roller Derby All-Stars at Minoru Arena in Richmond, doors at 7:30opm, whistle at 8:00pm.
Last year Erin “Miss E. Masculator” Morrisette wrote a guest post for me, featuring “5 Reasons to Love Roller Derby“. In case you missed it, here are those reasons again:
5 Reasons to Love Roller Derby
You’ve seen the posters on the Drive. You’ve overheard discussions on the Skytrain. You’ve even seen the skaters fly by on the seawall…and you still haven’t been to a roller derby bout? Don’t worry; there has never been a better time than now to check out the Terminal City Rollergirls, Vancouver’s first female roller derby league. Need convincing? Here are five reasons why we’re sure you will love roller derby:
1) The sport: Fast-paced and hard hitting, flat-track roller derby is the fastest growing women’s sport in the world. Since the first modern day women’s leagues formed in Texas and Arizona in 2002, there are now about 1400 active teams worldwide, including over 100 in Canada. And it’s no wonder. You won’t find balls, stunts or alligator pits; modern roller derby is not fake or pre-determined. With four blockers from each team trying to stop the opposition’s point-scoring jammer while also helping their own jammer score, roller derby is a highly strategic game where offense and defence happen at the same time. Teamwork is essential, but huge hits and breakneck speed play their part, too. Sit in the front row and you just might find yourself a part of the action – at your own risk, of course.
2) The event: The Terminal City Rollergirls host big, lively events that look and sound great. Of course, the 2000 or so fans are treated to an action-packed sports event, but their appetites are also pleased with offerings from the beer garden and food trucks on site. During breaks in the action, DJ Shawn LaRock spins booty-bumping tunes, and there is half-time entertainment by the likes of the Vancouver Dodgeball League, EastVan Pillowfight League, Vancouver Bike Polo and more. After the bouts, little fans can collect autographs from their favorite players, and grown-up fans can buy their favorites a victory beer at the after-parties. Et tu, Canucks?
3) The crowd: Diverse and hilarious, people-watching at a roller derby bout is almost as fun as watching the sport itself. From families with bouncing kids to raucous bachelorette parties, roller derby events draw a wide range of people. The tattooed and mohawked sit next to hardcore sports fans and diminutive grandmas – everyone’s a roller derby fan once the whistle blows.
4) The players: Terminal City Rollergirls are hyper-competitive, strong and colourful women from all different backgrounds. Everyone has heard the old story of the shy-librarian-by-day-fierce-derby-girl-by-night – and the TCRG does have a couple of those – but the players represent so much more. From bank managers to architects, video game designers to elementary school teachers, these women take their sport very seriously and train hard to be the best players they can be. Their incredible athleticism and big personalities will make it difficult to pick a favourite player, but you’ll try.
5) The league: TCRG is a member-run league that has been around since 2006. They have four house teams (the Bad Reputations, Faster Pussycats, Public Frenemy and the Riot Girls) with rabid local fan followings, and the TCRG All-Stars rep team that plays internationally. The All-Stars made history last year, making the biggest rankings jump in the history of WFTDA (the NHL of roller derby). The league has a reputation to uphold and a lot of fantastic neighbouring leagues to challenge. They’ll be holding one bout per month (starting in April) so Vancouver fans will have ample opportunity to catch the rollergirls in action. More information on the upcoming season can be found on their website at terminalcityrollergirls.com.
Follow the Terminal City Rollergirls on Twitter and Facebook for more league and event information.
Many come up with their own names for public art around Vancouver. There’s the rib cage, the ‘are those supposed to be there?’ chairs, and the frame. Despite not knowing the formal names for these pieces, each is greatly appreciated, enjoyed, and widely photographed. This week’s Vancouver Icon photo feature is of ‘the mercury squiggle’ or ‘the water blob’ in Vanier Park, officially called Freezing Water #7.
The beautifully fluid design makes this 7-ton stainless steel sculpture look light and graceful in its frozen movement.
Ren Jun made his North American debut with this elegant, amorphic stainless steel sculpture Freezing Water #7 at the Vancouver Biennale 2009-2011. The sculpture is located in Vancouver’s waterfront Vanier Park. Cast in stainless steel, the artist reveals his mastery of material, volume and engineering to create a monumental public installation as fluid as a bird in flight. This sculpture captures the artist’s inspiration of spilt water as it puddles and morphs into mercury-like shapes.
Previous Vancouver Icons posts: Cleveland Dam, Heritage Hall, School of Theology Building at UBC, Gate to the Northwest Passage, St Paul’s Hospital, Capilano Lake, Stawamus Chief, Nine O’Clock Gun, Malkin Bowl, Search, Vancouver Rowing Club, Echoes, Point Atkinson Lighthouse, English Bay Inukshuk, Hollow Tree, Hotel Europe, Lions Gate Bridge Lions, LightShed, Granville Bridge, 217.5 Arc x 13′, Canoe Bridge, Vancouver Block, Bloedel Conservatory, Centennial Rocket, Canada Place, Old Courthouse/Vancouver Art Gallery, Dominion Building, Science World, Gastown Steam Clock, SFU Burnaby, Commodore Lanes, Siwash Rock, Kitsilano Pool, White Rock Pier, Main Post Office, Planetarium Building, Lord Stanley Statue, Vancouver Library Central Branch, Victory Square, Digital Orca, The Crab Sculpture, Girl in Wetsuit, The Sun Tower, The Hotel Vancouver, The Gassy Jack Statue, The Marine Building, and The Angel of Victory. Should you have a suggestion for the Vancouver Icons series please feel free to leave a note in the comments. It should be a thing, statue, or place that is very visible and recognizable to the public.
CircusWest is a comprehensive circus arts centre for all ages, located in the historic PNE Gardens, offering children, teens, and adults an opportunity to explore circus arts in an encouraging, non-competitive environment. Celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year CircusWest’s next event is Kaleidoscope – Circus in Technicolour.
Where: Garden Auditorium, PNE 2901 E Hastings, Vancouver
When: May 1st to May 4th, 2014 at 12:30pm and 7:00pm daily.
Tickets:Adults $20, Youth (18 & Under) $13, Students & Seniors $15, School Group Rate $9. Available online.
Kaleidoscope – Circus in Technicolour features the circus talents of teenaged circus performers from the Performance and Centre Stage programs of CirKids in an original production staged at the PNE Garden Auditorium. This spectacular performance tells the story of a young boy who searches for and is inspired by coloured worlds of circus and ultimately finds his true colours. It promises to be an immersive multi-sensory experience with athletic aerial and ground circus acts, a beautiful sound track, lush projections and unexpected surprises to delight one and all! Within one show, witness incredible acts including trapeze, acrobalance, juggling, unicyclists, tumbling, dance, tissu and trampoline.
Win Tickets to CircusWest Kaleidoscope
If you would like to attend a performance of Kaleidoscope, CircusWest has offered up a pair of tickets to one lucky Miss604 reader. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 5:00pm on Monday, April 28, 2014. CircusWest is a registered non-profit and is a creative space where individuals can dream big, push limits, and defy gravity all while having fun. Follow along on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
Update The winner is OJ!
