At our house, New Year’s Eve is a low key affair. For one thing, my husband works pretty much every year, often sneaking in the door at around 11:40pm. For another, we have a 4-year-old and a 1-year-old. There just isn’t a lot of partying in our lives at the moment.
However, you may not share our New Year’s blues. In fact, you may be footloose and fancy-free and looking for a party. Or maybe you just want a chance to take your kids skating. Either way, we have tracked down some great events that are happening in the Tri-Cities on December 31, so hopefully there is something to tickle your fancy.
From 1-4pm the Port Coquitlam Recreation Complex [map] is holding a New Year’s Eve Skate. It will be an afternoon of fun, games and music on the ice. After skating, take a break and warm up in the lobby with free hot chocolate and hot apple cider, then participate at one of the craft stations. For more information call 604.927.7970 or email parksrec@portcoquitlam.ca.
The Giggle Dam Dinner Theatre rings in 2010 with Laugh with the Dam Stars at their theatre in downtown Port Coquitlam [map]. The doors open at 7:30 pm for the once a year only musical extravaganza, featuring a 6 piece live band and a plethora of well known celebrity impersonations. The chef kicks it up in the kitchen featuring your choice of quality main dishes and DAM champagne and party favors for the big countdown. After midnight they let it all hang out as the live band provides great classic rock. For more information, or to buy tickets, call 604.944.4453.
The Red Robinson Show Theatre in Coquitlam [map] is welcoming the New Year with Party 2010, featuring dinner and a performance by Tower of Power. Doors open at 7:30pm for dinner, or if you would like to attend the show only you can arrive at 10pm. There will be party favours and a champagne toast. And, of course the renowned horn-driven funk music from Tower of Power, which emerged from the rich San Francisco Bay area music scene in the early 1970s. Tickets are available from TicketMaster at 604.280.4444.
And, of course, the Evergreen Cultural Centre is celebrating New Year’s Eve with QuiRING in the New Year, which we highlighted on Monday.
No matter how you choose to ring in the New Year, we hope that you will be safe. And we would like to wish you all the best in 2010!
Alright, you’re looking for something fun to do to ring in the second decade of the 2000’s (or the last year of the first decade for you stickler types). But let’s face it, going downtown is a hassle, and since you’re going to want to drink, that’s a very long transit or very expensive cab ride home. Why not find something fun to do closer to home? The Evergreen Cultural Centre is going to help you ring in the New Year right, and why not do it with a little Baroque chamber music?
The concert will feature Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos. The Quiring Chamber Players will perform three of the dramatic concertos joined by some of Canada’s most illustrious guest soloists including Soprano Robyn Driedger-Klassen singing a sparkling Bach Cantata accompanied by trumpet, harpsichord and strings. You can get a little preview of Robyn’s incredible vocal talents by launching the music player here.
And about the Quiring Chamber Players, from the website…
The Quiring Chamber Players (Angela Goddard, violin, Rosemary O’Connor, piano and Reg Quiring, viola) have been bringing world class chamber music performances and education to the Tri-Cities since their formation in 2002. They have established a reputation for presenting inspired and creative concerts which include will known guests from around North America.
Tickets are $32/$27/$22, and there will be a “sparkling” reception after the concert to ring in 2010: The Year We Make Contact.
Tickets are available at the box office by calling (604) 927-6555, or visit www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca
From our family to yours, best wishes for a very merry Christmas, filled with happiness and joy.
The calendar is pretty quiet this week in the V3H, and throughout the Lower Mainland. Schools are closed, a lot of people are taking time off from work, and Christmas is here.
There is one event that you might want to check out in Port Coquitlam. On Thursday, December 24 from 11am-2pm there will be a special Christmas Eve Skate at the Port Coquitlam Recreation Complex [map]. This drop in event offers you a chance to enjoy a festive skate featuring music, lights and crafts. You can try your luck at the reindeer guessing jar and enjoy free hot chocolate, apple cider and treats. For more information, call 604.927.7970 or email fenglers@portcoquitlam.ca.
I hope that your holiday preparations are going well, and that you enjoy this last full week of 2009!
With the traffic around Coquitlam Centre reaching epic levels, it must be the last week before Christmas. While we deck the halls around here, and try to keep our toddler from pulling down the Christmas Tree on himself, let’s have a look at some more video of the Christmas lights around town.
This comes courtesy of the fine folks at BCBackrider.ca
Place des Arts is pleased to welcome violin instructor and fiddler Rosie Carver to the music faculty in January, 2010. Rosie will lead a brand new fiddling class, PdA Fiddlers, for young violin students wishing to gain more performance experience and expand their technical skills.
A fixture in the local music scene, Rosie has performed and recorded with the Celtic group Blackthorn for over 20 years. She is trained as a classical violinist, is an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Music and is a member of the BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association. She is the associate director of the Vancouver Corelli Strings and founder and director of the West Coast Fiddle Heads.
Rosie believes that with proper training and musical awareness a student can venture into whichever style he or she chooses. Her class, PdA Fiddlers, will offer a fun introduction to the basics of Celtic music for intermediate level violinists aged 10-15 years. Students will develop a repertoire of simple jigs, reels and airs and perform them each term.
PdA Fiddlers is just one of the new classes at Place des Arts beginning in January of 2010. Other offerings include Group Guitar, Group Violin, Singing Fundamentals for Adults, String Quartet Junior and classes for homelearners. For more information, or to register, visit Place des Arts online or call 604.664.1636.
Christmas is almost here – there is just over a week left to polish up your holiday plans. But there are still plenty of holiday events to choose from. So grab a pen and jot some of these down.
Theatrix Youtheatre will be presenting Pinocchio from December 16 – 19, with shows at 1pm and 7pm daily, at the Inlet Theatre [map]. This classic tale tells the story of Gepetto the carpenter who wants a little boy, and so he creates the puppet Pinocchio, who comes to life. Pinocchio journeys with the circus and ends up in a fantasy land on his journey to becoming a ‘real’ boy, and learns what real love is. For more information, or for tickets, call 604.931.2008.
The last two nights of the Santa Christmas Cruise are Friday, December 18 and Saturday, December 19 from 7-10pm. Local boaters from the Tri-Cities and across the Lower Mainland will lend a warm mariner’s hand to Santa as they cruise their beautifully decorated vessels along our neighbouring shores. Over 20 ships will be cruising on six nights, and community members on shore may be providing additional festive events and hot chocolate. Friday’s cruise departs from Reed Point and continues along the inner harbour, and Saturday’s will take place along along the Dollarton shoreline to Brighton Beach, Camp Howdy and Belcarra.
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is pulling into Port Moody on Friday, December 18. The festivities begin at 8pm on the Queen Street Plaza [map], and features entertainment, a crackling bonfire, street hockey (make sure to bring your stick), food and more. The train is scheduled to arrive at approximate 9:15pm, with alternative rock band The Odds and Wide Mouth Mason lead singer Shaun Verreault ready to put on a show. Donations of food and money will be collected for SHARE, and last year the event raised over $13,000 to support people in need in our community.
On Saturday, December 19 at 7:30pm Broadway Bound Performing Arts Studio presents Show de Navidad at Terry Fox Theatre [map]. It will be a fun and festive show for the entire family. For more information, or to buy tickets, call 604.464.2800.
On Sunday, December 20 from 12:45-4pm there will be a Skate with Santa event at the Port Coquitlam Recreation Centre [map]. Join the arena attendants for some Christmas fun. Bring your camera and have your picture taken with Santa on the Zamboni, make a Christmas craft and warm up with hot chocolate. For more information call 604.927.7970.
The Port Moody Public Library is hosting Celebrate the Season on Tuesday, December 22 from 6:30-7:30pm at the Inlet Theatre [map]. Holiday preparations are finished with, so it’s time to relax! Join them for the annual Christmas celebration with stories, songs, and refreshments. For more information, call 604.469.4575.
Happy Holidays!
PS – My personal blog, Strocel.com, has been nominated in the Canadian Blog Awards! From now until December 19 you can vote every day. I would really appreciate your support. Look for Strocel.com in the Family and Blog Post Series categories.
Well, as the snow flys here in the V3H, Christmas is on the way. My daughter and I got out earlier this week to get some photos and video footage of some of our amazing local light displays. We have embedded the photos and the video in the map at thev3h.com/christmas, but here are the two videos we have.
602 Cottonwood Ave, Coquitlam.
All coordinated with a computer system to time the lights to the music, the effect is incredible. Visit www.mattsonlights.com for more information.
So many Santas and an incredible amount of lights make this a yearly favourite, and of all the houses we visited, this was my daughter’s favourite.
More pictures and these videos, along with our regularly updated map, can be found at www.thev3h.com/christmas. If you have a house we’re missing, or pictures and video, please email me at jon thev3h.com and let us know.
The City of Port Coquitlam is serious about reducing waste in their municipality. To accomplish that, they have enacted one of the most advanced garbage collection plans in the Lower Mainland. For example, as of November 2, 2009 they have been collecting all leftover food scraps in green bins, including meat, dairy, food-soiled paper, bones and shells. You can learn more about this program by reading up on kitchen green waste collection and checking out the answers to some frequently asked questions.
In addition to green waste, Port Coquitlam also picks up recyclables and ordinary household waste. Currently, the city picks up regular household waste every week, and recycling and green waste on alternate weeks. However, that will change in 2010, with the introduction of alternate-week garbage collection.
The city hopes that alternate-week garbage collection will reduce waste and save money. They project that they could divert up to 2400 tonnes of waste from the landfill each year, and save taxpayers $225,000 over five years. With the Cache Creek landfill scheduled to close in 2012, this may be a key step in helping to reduce the amount of garbage we create in the region. In order to help with the shift, green waste will be collected every week from mid-May to mid-November, during peak gardening season.
Even with the ramped-up kitchen waste collection, it still makes sense to reduce your household waste as much as possible. Port Coquitlam provides some waste disposal alternatives, to help you do just that.
More details about the new collection schedule will be published in Port Coquitlam’s 2010 calendar, which will be distributed to residents along with the Tri-City News on Sunday, December 13. In the meantime, you can also access the schedule and other information online. Or, if you have questions and concerns and would like to speak with someone directly call 604.927.5496 or 604.927.5488 or 604.927.5480. If you need emergency help after hours call 604.543.6700. And at any time you can email operations@portcoquitlam.ca.
Photo: kevindooley on Flickr
Santa is very busy these days, what with Christmas fast approaching. But we are very lucky here in the V3H, because he seems to be able to find time to visit with children of all ages in our neck of the woods. And where Santa is, you know that Christmas music isn’t far behind. So take a moment to find out what festive (or not-so-festive) events are happening in and around the V3H this week.
The Coquitlam Public Library will host Screenwriting Essentials with Jana Williams on Wednesday, December 9 from 7-8:30pm at their City Centre branch [map]. Adults and teens in grade 10 and up are invited to learn about the many decisions a screenwriter faces in crafting a feature-length screenplay, from characterization to structure to surprise endings. To register for this free program, please call 604.937.4140 ext. 208 or email cmiller@library.coquitlam.bc.ca.
On Thursday, December 10 from 7-8pm the second Spirit of the Season concert takes place at the Gathering Place in Port Coquitlam [map]. The show features Corbin Van Der Zalm and friends, playing casual acoustic pop/rock. Corbin VanderZalm has a unique sound incorporating elements of blues, jazz soul and pop into his performance. The show is free, so it’s a great way to get out and enjoy some live music.
On Friday, December 11 there will be another Jelly Bean Dance from 6:15-9:15pm at the Hyde Creek Recreation Centre [map]. Come enjoy a night of fun-filled activities for children in Grade 4, 5 or 6. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. For more information or to find out where and when to buy tickets, call 604.927.7946 or 604.927.7970.
The Port Moody Film Society presents Bread and Tulips on Friday, December 11 at 7:30pm in the Inlet Theatre [map]. This is an Italian film with English subtitles, which tells the story of Rosealba, a forty-something Italian housewife, making her own way home after being left behind on a family bus trip. Leaving her husband to look after the house and their teenage sons, her vacation stretches longer as she meets new friends, and lands a job in Venice. For more information call 604.469.4571 or email info@pmfilm.ca.
On Saturday, December 12 there will be a Breakfast with Santa at 9am at Wilson Centre in Port Coquitlam [map]. Come enjoy breakfast with the jolly old elf himself. The even features entertainment, crafts, face painting, and a sing-along. Tickets are $8 per person.
On Saturday, December 12 the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents Holiday Hooray at the Terry Fox Theatre [map]. There are two shows, one at 10am and one at 11:30am. The show features the music of Tchaikovsky and children’s entertainers Let Your Music Shine with Linda and Lisa. For more information, or to buy tickets, call 604.876.3434.
The Jingle Bell Swim runs from 1-3pm on Saturday, December 12 at the Hyde Creek Recreation Centre [map]. Bring your elf friends down for some reindeer games and adventures in the pool. For more information, call 604.927.7946.
On Saturday, December 12 from 1-2pm the Coquitlam Chorale Society presents a Christmas Concert at the Coquitlam Public Library’s Poirier branch [map]. Drop by the library and join in the music, song and refreshments. This is a free concert and no registration is required.
On Sunday, December 13 there will be a Pajama Morning with Santa from 8:30-11am at Poirier Community Centre in Coquitlam [map]. Come and enjoy a family morning in your pajamas with Santa. There will be music, crafts and a pancake breakfast. Tickets are $5 for children and $6 for adults, and pre-registration is required. To get more information or to register call 604.927.4386 and quote #293051.
On Sunday, December 13 Coastal Sound Music Academy presents Holiday Wreath at Evergreen Cultural Centre [map]. There are two shows, one at 3pm and one at 7pm. Old and new favourites will be performed by choirs of all age groups. Each choir will depict a particular holiday wreath in song, from evergreen to holly to gingerbread. Acclaimed artist Michael Abraham will capture the performances with charcoal drawings that will be auctioned off at the end of the show. For more information, or to buy tickets, call 604.927.6555.
Now get out there and join in the holiday cheer!
