Walking Tour
WHAZZAT? A Tour of Chinatown with Bob Sung
Sunday October 28, 11am
(approx. 2 hours)
Meet at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden courtyard, 568 Carrall
Ever find yourself peering into an herbal medicine shop in Chinatown and asking “Whazzat? What’s in all those bottles?” We’ve found just the person to help us find out the answers. Bob Sung leads walks in Chinatown with a focus on the culture, symbols and philosophy of food and other medicines, and how they relate to culinary trends. Join Bob for a tasty sampler of all things Chinatown – you may even try some of the unknowns. The walk will conclude with a no host dim sum lunch. $10 for non-residents, pay what you can for local residents
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Workshop
FEATHER HACK
Sunday October 28, 1pm – 2pm
Chinese Cultural Centre courtyard
50 E. Pender
What is feather hack? Come and find out; learn the game, play the game. In Cantonese and Mandarin, with English translation. We’ll play outdoors, in the Chinese Cultural Centre courtyard. Everyone welcome, this game is good for all ages. Free
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Poetry & Music
DREAM OF WORDS
Sunday October 28, 2pm – 3pm
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, 578 Carrall
In the charmed setting of the Classical Chinese Garden, the Festival is delighted to present a jewel of an afternoon concert with Evelyn Lau, Jim Wong-Chu and Silk Road Music. Vancouver’s Poet Laureate, Evelyn Lau’s next collection, A Grain of Rice, will be published later this fall. Joining Evelyn is poet, editor and historian Jim Wong-Chu. Jim is a founding member of the Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop, and his book Chinatown Ghosts was the first poetry book published by an Asian Canadian writer. Qiu Xia He and Andre Thibault are Silk Road Music, an award-winning duo that has taken Chinese-Western musical collaboration to a new level; their music will compliment the words of Evelyn and Jim. By donation to the Garden
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Workshops
ACUPUNCTURE, PAPER CUTTING, INTRODUCTION TO THE ER HU
Sunday October 28, 3:15pm – 4:15pm
Chinese Cultural Centre, 50 E. Pender
The Chinese Cultural Centre presents three workshops to introduce you to Chinese culture. In the Multipurpose Hall there is an Introduction to Acupuncture – what is it like? What are the benefits? Also in the Hall, you can attend an Introduction to the craft of Paper Cutting. Both workshops are in English and Cantonese, with Mandarin translation. At the same time, in the Dance room of the Centre, you can attend an Introduction to a Chinese musical instrument, the er hu, known as the ‘Chinese violin’. This versatile instrument is used in both traditional and contemporary music arrangements. Beginners, adults, children; everyone is welcome. In English and Mandarin with Cantonese translation. Free
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Music in the Streets
HASTINGS STREET BAND
Sunday October 28, 11:30am & 12:30pm
Starts at InterUrban Gallery, 1 E. Hastings
Get your dancing shoes ready. Can you hear them coming? It’s music in the streets with the Hastings Street Band. Led by multi-instrumentalist and composer Brad Muirhead, the Band is comprised of enthusiastic Downtown Eastside involved amateur and semi-pro musicians playing with professional musicians from across Vancouver. Fast becoming a community favourite, the band plays upbeat jazz and blues with a taste of New Orleans. Free
Food Workshop
SUNDAY JAM SESSION
Sunday October 28, 1pm – 6pm
W2 Media Café, 111 W. Hastings
Join W2 and Chef Karen McAthy in the café and learn about making jam, pickles and preserves. Cost is for supplies and you get to leave with the delicious treats that you make. Space is limited to 10 people so RSVP by sending an email to: chef@w2mediacafe.org. See you there! On the day $20
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Dance
CONNECT Karen Jamieson Dance
Sunday October 28, 3pm – 4pm
Meet at steps of Carnegie Community Centre, 401 Main
Procession ends at SFU Woodwards World Art Centre, 149 W. Hastings
Karen Jamieson and the Carnegie Dance Troupe perform CONNECT starting at 3pm at the Carnegie front steps. Performers are residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside: people of a wide range of cultures, ages, abilities and talents. Live music, poetry, First Nations drumming and cultural dances will be part of the procession leaving Carnegie and the subsequent performance at SFU Woodwards. The performers will lead the audience west on Hastings stopping at the DNC Street Market in Pigeon Park for a short routine. Then they’ll travel to SFU Woodwards for the main performance, arriving at the World Art Centre at 3:30pm. If you do not wish to join the procession please be at SFU Woodwards World Art Centre (2nd floor) at 3:20pm. Free
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Music
ACCORDION CAFE
Sunday October 28, 1:30pm – 3pm
InterUrban Gallery, 1 E. Hastings
With a concert of music played on the versatile and always surprising mighty accordion, the ever-creative accordionists of Vancouver Squeezebox Circle start their presentation with an accordion parade around the DNC Street Market. Back inside the InterUrban, there will be solos, duets, group songs, classic rock, pop and so much more. Join Todd Wong, Alan Zisman, Rowan Lipkovits and accordionists aplenty from the Squeezebox Circle and beyond. Don’t miss it! Free
Music
HAISLA WITH NASTY, BRUTISH AND SHORT
Sunday October 28, 4pm – 5pm
InterUrban Gallery, 1 E. Hastings
Artist, community leader and musician, Haisla Collins can be found all around the Downtown Eastside. This is our opportunity to sit back and listen to Haisla and her acoustic blues band, Haisla with Nasty, Brutish & Short. Specializing in blues and ballads with flavours of gospel, jazz and country, Haisla is joined by Lorenzo Watters on lead guitar and mandolin, the Reverend Gabriel Hebert on slide guitar and banjo, and Father Theo on rhythm guitar and twelve-string. That’s urban blues! See you there! Free
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Music
THE WAYNE LAVALLEE BAND
Sunday October 28, 7:30pm – 8:30pm
InterUrban Gallery, 1 E. Hastings
The unique fusion of Wayne Lavallee’s folk/rock acoustic style with traditional Cree chanting has made this West Coast artist an in demand performer whose work is fresh and innovative. A Juno nominee and winner of ‘best rock album’ and ‘best male artist’ at the 2010 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, Wayne is a ‘rock ‘n roll Indian cowboy.” One of the most significant songwriters of our time, his vocals are cutting-edge and heart-felt, while his melodies are haunting. This is a rare opportunity for Vancouver audiences to hear Wayne with his full band. Performing with Wayne this evening are Eric Reed on guitar and banjo, Brian Minato on bass, and Niko Friesen on the drums. Free