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Monday, June 28
Nancy Lee at Joy Kogawa House, final event of the writing for Social Change reading series and Kogawa House writer-in-residence program
by
Todd
on Mon 28 Jun 2010 01:50 PM PDT
Nancy Lee reading and interview at Joy Kogawa House on Monday, June 28
7:30pm
1450 West 64th Ave.
attendance by reservation
Please RSVP at kogawahouse@yahoo.ca
Nancy Lee, author of Dead Girls, is the 2nd Writer-in-residence at Historic Joy Kogawa House. She has hosted and interviewed 4 other authors during her 3 month stay, which were also recorded for CBC Radio.
The time with Nancy and her husband John has been a great experience, as she has brought her insightful thought, probing questions, and wonderful wit to Joy Kogawa House. Additionally, she hosted a memoir writing workshop on Saturday June 26th.
Please join us for the in the intimate living room at Historic Joy Kogawa
House for the final event of a successful series of small salon gatherings with five writers who use
literature to call for social change and justice and as a tool for
social transformation.
Five Mondays (and a Sunday) This Spring
- Joan Macleod, Monday, April 19
- Anosh Irani, Sunday, May 2
- Steven Galloway, Monday, May 17
- Karen Connelly, Monday, June 14
- Nancy Lee, Monday, June 28
All conversations begin at 7:30 p.m. on a Monday, except the one
with Anosh Irani, which begins at 3:30 p.m. on a Sunday.
Historic Joy Kogawa House is located in the Marpole
neighbourhood of Vancouver at 1450 West 64th Avenue (two blocks east of
Granville)
Admission by donation
Books will be available for sale and signing by the authors
Please RSVP at kogawahouse@yahoo.ca
Thanks to the Canada Council Author Reading and Author Residencies
programs for funds to host these writers at Joy House
Friday, June 25
BC Highland Games this Saturday June 26 in Coquitlam
by
Todd
on Fri 25 Jun 2010 07:38 PM PDT
BC Highland Games this Saturday June 26 in Coquitlam
Here is the Scottish Express message, that has taken the
torch from Ron MacLeod, to send out news emails about events in the Scottish-Canadian diaspora in the Vancouver area.
---------------
This
Saturday, June 26, 2010 marks the gathering of everyone that loves
anything
Scottish at the BC Highland Games. It’s a day to come and listen to
the
best piping and drumming, marvel at the dancing, stroll through the
exhibits,
have a bite to eat and immerse yourself in Scottish charm, goodwill and
fun!! more details below
The BC Highland Games
Saturday June 26, 2010, Percy Perry Stadium, Coquitlam
http://www.bchighlandgames.com
15 Piping
bands including the World Champion Simon Fraser University Band
220
Highland Dancing Competitors
30 Heavy
Event Competitors (these are the caber tossers)
30 Venders
(with all sorts of food and items galore with a Scottish twist)
21 Scottish
Clans and Societies
Plenty of
rides and activities for the children
And 16
Haggis
Yes, again
this year those mythical Haggis will be hiding throughout the stadium
grounds
for the wildest hunt you have ever seen.
Spot enough and you become an Official Haggis Hunter! They are elusive,
fast, and can usually
be found lurking around Tartan.
Highland
Games are about competition and we are happy to report some of the best
dancers, drummers, pipers and throwers are back to defend their titles.
The caliber of sport is exhilarating!
Our
entertainment this year includes the Jocelyn Petit Band and Blackthorn.
Both will be playing on the main
stage. They are the best of our
local talent and showcase our deep talent pool here in BC.
The Beer
Tent, British Car Show, Whisky Tasting, Sword Dancing, Cultural Tent and
even a
second Beer Tent are back!!
Tuesday, June 1
Funny Asians from LA are performing for Asian Comedy Night by VACT
by
Todd
on Tue 01 Jun 2010 02:35 PM PDT
18 Mighty Mountain Warriors HOOT CAMP comedy show
Emmy Award Winning Asian Sketch Group from Los Angeles
Coming to Vancouver - June 5 & 6 @ the Roundhouse
www.vact.ca
HURRY! Tickets only available for 2 remaining performances!
2 evenings: Saturday June 5th & Sunday June 6th
Only 2 hilarious performances remaining at the Roundhouse Performance Centre
181 Roundhouse Mews (corner of Davie & Pacific Blvd)
Vancouver, BC
* $20 in advance – general admission
* $25 in advance – reserved section (first 2 rows in raised centre section)
* $25 at the door – general admission only
* $108 in advance – SAVE! – group rate for 6 tickets (general admissions)
Buy on-line at www.vact.ca or at the Roundhouse at 604.713.1800
18mmwtoservesouth.jpg
Back by popular demand from 2009 for their very own show are: The 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors (18mmw) from Los Angeles! This group has garnered three awards including the 2007 Emmy Award “Mighty Warriors of Comedy”, the 2006 International Sketch Comedy Championships, and the 2005 Bay Area’s Best Comedy Troupe award. They continue to rock the San Francisco Bay Area and San Jose with their unique blend of Asian and political themed sketches.
Visit www.18mmw.com or www.vact.ca for more information. more »
Wednesday, April 28
VACT's Etch-YOUR-SketchOFF2?#$% now features friendly rivalries
by
Todd
on Wed 28 Apr 2010 12:25 PM PDT
Asians are talented in sketch comedy too!I chatted with VACT's founding creator Joyce Lam last week. There is big drama for this year's Etch-YOUR-SketchOFF2!#$%. One of last year's comedy sketch teams has split into two new teams for 2010. That's right... dramedy is happening! Members of last year's Darin' Joes, have formed new teams. Fane Tse has helped to form new team Angry Asian Men. Josette Jorge was also with Darin' Joes last year but has returned to SFUU Man Chu. Will there be a comedic show down? Other teams competing are: Beef Noodle Soup, Laughing Make Mind Dangerous, Banana Drama, Asians Bleed Red, The Yangzters. Of special note: Tricia Collins is performing with SFUU MAN CHU. Tricia co-hosted the 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner with me. She is one of my favorite Vancouver actresses - having performed in her solo show Gravity, as well as Firehall Theatre's Ecstasy of Rita Joe and Urban Ink Production's Hunted. She is also a writer, contributing to Ricepaper Magazine and Completely Mixed Up: An Asian North American Mixed Race Anthology.35 performers will be on stage. Mostly Asians with some members of non-Asian minority groups, representing token inclusivity and plain old friendship between races. Check out the VACT website: www.vact.ca
Wed Apr 21, 03:15 PM by editor
For
those who have enjoyed our shows and want to support us financially –
we are recognizing our fans with special benefits. Depending on your
friendship level, you will receive premium reserved seating upgrades,
recognition in the programs, opening night tickets and invitations to
cast parties, signed productions posters and special concierge
ticketing services & privileges. Our way of saying thank you to
you.
For more details, click here.
Thursday, April 22
Ali & Ali 7: RCMP, Immigration and tasers - Oh My!
by
Todd
on Thu 22 Apr 2010 11:45 PM PDT
Ali & Ali 7 Return to the stage for another outrageous skewering of Canadian MulticulturalismWORLD PREMIERE of Ali & Ali
Created and performed by Camyar Chai, Guillermo Verdecchia and Marcus Youssef
Co-starring Laara Sadiq and Raugi Yu
Directed by Guillermo Verdecchia
at the Cultch’s Historic Theatre
Apr 14–24
Tickets for Cultch Performances available at 604-251-1363 or https://tickets.thecultch.com/
at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts’ Studio Theatre
April 28 - May 1
Tickets for Shadbolt performances at 604-205-3000 or boxoffice@burnaby.ca Ali & Ali are to Canadian multiculturalism what Wayne & Shuster
are to Canadian culture. They poke fun at ourselves, to help us laugh
at the absurdity of our history and culture. But in today's world, Wayne & Shuster, comedy kings of the 1960's and 1970's, have given way to Kids from the Hall, and Russell Peters. Canadian culture is no longer white and red, our cultural diversity includes black and yellow and pink and especially brown. Canadians also come from Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Azerbaijian. Wayne & Shuster used to make fun of foreign accents. Camyar Chai and Marcus Youssef as brown immigrant refugees from the fictional country of Agraba, take ethnic jokes to a whole different level - but with some very serious political commentary. This
was my first time at Ali & Ali. I really enjoyed reading the
published play Ali & Ali and the Axes of Evil. I couldn't stop laughing at some of the bits about Asian Heritage Month, and the Scottish stage manager. For the 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner, I had invited Marcus Youssef to read/perform an excerpt with comedian Charles Demers. So I wasn't going to miss them. The show opens with a montage of current world leaders from Libya, USA, and Canada. It's a tribute rap to Moammar Gadhafi. Wow... we are definitely in a different cultural perspective here. The play is interactive with the audience, asking questions, getting responses. Surprise! They are spoofing and utilizing experimental theatre audience participation as well as Bertolt Brecht's agitprop theatre. Ali & Ali are presenting a show to the audience. They introduce their assistant as Yogi Ru, in actuality Vancouver actor Raugi Yu. Raugi is the straight man to this zany duo, even dressing up as Obama's Portuguese Water Dog. Along the way, an ethnic South Asian RCMP officer (Laara Sadiq) appears, to charge
Ali & Ali with illegal immigration to Canada. A kangaroo court (or
would it be a "moose court" in Canada?) ensues and Ali & Ali must
defend and explain themselves. This is where the character of Raugi steps up as an interpreter to
explain the actions of Ali & Ali to the RCMP officer. But true to
Ali & Ali interpretation and misinterpretion, as Canadian
sacred institutions
such as the RCMP are poked with scenarios including tasers and cultural sensitivity
training. Broad outrageous humour got loud laffs from the audience -
especially the puppet show! Ali & Ali poke some fun at Barak Obama's New
World Order. The puppet show took on a weird outrageous vibe, as talking heads of Afro-American movement cultural icons, criticize Obama policies in the White House. It would have been nice if they had been able to identify who their "Jiminy Cricket" conscience guides were, as many audience members are probably not versed in Afro-American revolutionaries such as Malcolm X and Angela Davis. Some serious topics are addressed such as
prison detention & torture, illegal immigration and deportation. This show uses the slap stick humour to set up and explain the underlying social commentary. How does a normal human being cope with being detained in prison on unspecific charges? The balance between the serious and absurdist swings back and forth, eliciting emotional reactions from the audience. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. There are many in-jokes, dependent upon the audience's knowledge of many things. It is like a television channel-flipping barrage of issues. But the play succeeds in informing the audience about our country's detention of prisoners, and it creating new cultural perspectives of multiculturalism. Sometimes, how you see the world really does depend on what colour your eyes are.
Definitely not for everybody - but neither was Monty Python or Wayne & Shuster.
Check out the Neworld website:
http://www.neworldtheatre.com/productions-ali-and-ali-7.html
Tuesday, March 9
"CHINESE VANCOUVER THEN AND NOW: 1972-2010" - Vancouver Opera Speaks
by
Todd
on Tue 09 Mar 2010 01:58 AM PST
"CHINESE VANCOUVER THEN AND NOW: 1972-2010"
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
7-9 pm
Alice MacKay Room, Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch
OPERA SPEAKS @ VPL -
Admission is free.
An eminent panel explores the history of Chinese in Vancouver, with
emphasis on the Chinese communities' emergence and development since
1972, the year of Nixon's momentous trip to China. Discover how our
city has been shaped and transformed by Chinese culture over the past
38 years. This will be a fascinating evening. Speakers include eminent
architect Bing Thom, UBC historian Henry Yu, and filmmaker and writer Colleen Leung.
Presented in partnership with the Vancouver Public Library.
Opera Speaks @ VPL is sponsored by Omni BC Diversity Television.
http://www.vancouveropera.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=255&Itemid=15
Saturday, February 13
Todd Wong appearance on CTV Canada AM for Sunday Feb 14th
by
Todd
on Sat 13 Feb 2010 03:04 PM PST
Todd will be on Canada AM
on CTV, Sunday morning
- must be there at 5am so Toronto people can see
a brief interview between 8 and 9am.. I will do the interview at Robson Square, which is part of the the BC Canada Pavillion.
Then will do an interview and
filming at Chinese New Year parade with ZDF tv from Germany. We will meet at 8:30am, as the parade starts at 9:30am in Vancouver Chinatown.
Now....Must get
ready to attend the Women's hockey Canada vs Slovakia today at 5pm
Monday, December 21
Winter Solstice in Vancouver - Devon is fire-tossing at the Roundhouse
by
Todd
on Mon 21 Dec 2009 03:21 PM PST
I usually help organize a team social for attending the Winter Solstice events at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens - but this year I must attend AGM and Christmas Party at Joy Kogawa House.
Check out my past stories about attending Winter Solstice events here:
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog?cmd=search&keywords=winter+solstice
Check out the official Winter Solstice events here:
http://www.secretlantern.org/
My friend Devon Cooke is performing "Fire tossing" at the Round House Community Centre. Devon loves being involved in many cultural activities and also paddles on the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team. more »
Wednesday, December 9
TIX ON SALE: 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Dinner - January 31st.
by
Todd
on Wed 09 Dec 2009 06:36 PM PST
Now Available: Tickets for Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner
- It's the 12 Anniversary of the "little dinner that could."
January 31st, Sunday 2010
Floata Seafood Restaurant
Vancouver Chinatown
Contact Firehall Arts Centre:phone 604.689.0926
The Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Dinner has created an awareness of cultural fusion that has spanned international media, and been featured at the 2008 BC Canada Pavillion in Bejing during the 2008 Summer Olympics, the Royal BC Museum celebration exhibit of the 150th Anniversary of the province of BC, and a 2009 touring exhibition in Scotland titled This Is Who We Are: Scots in Canada.
 Gung Haggis Fat Choy creator Todd Wong at the Scottish Parliament exhibition of THIS IS WHO WE ARE: Scots in Canada. The exhibition featured a life sized photo of Wong and a video interview about the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner, which features the acknowledgement of Chinese and Scottish pioneer history in Canada and contemporary culinary and cultural fusions.Tickets are now on sale for the 12th Anniversary Dinner.January 31st, Sunday, 2010 Floata Seafood Restaurant Vancouver Chinatown Doors open 5pm Dinner starts 6pm $60 + $5 service charge or $600 per table + $20 service charge prices for students and children available. Raffle Prizes are featured, as this dinner has traditionally been a fundraiser for: Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team, Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop/Ricepaper Magazine and Historic Joy Kogawa House. Contact Firehall Arts Centre:phone 604.689.0926
Visit the Firehall Box Office, 280 E. Cordova Street.
Box Office hours are: 9:30am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. For media information - contact: Todd Wong 778-846-7090 - email: gunghaggis@yahoo.ca The origins of the dinner started with 16 people in a living room in 1998. The next year it expanded to 40 people in a restaurant. Soon it outgrew the first restaurant and expanded to 220 people in 2002. Moving to a larger restaurant for 2003, and expanding to a 2-night event in 2004, serving over 500 people. 2005 saw the move to North America's largest Chinese restaurant and present home of the dinner where 570 people were accomodated. A 2004 CBC telelevision performance special, Gung Haggis Fat Choy, was inspired by the dinner, and received two Leo nominations for best music performance, and best director of music performance. In 2007, a CBC television documentary Generations: The Chan Legacy featured interviews with dinner creator Todd Wong, and film clips of the dinner. A wide range of musical performers have been featured over the years including: fusion musicians Silk Road Music Ensemble, Dragon River Chinese Music Ensemble, Blackthorn celtic band, The Mad Celts, Chinese erhu master Ji-Rong Huang; opera singers Heather Pawsey, Veera Devi Khare; Jazz singer Leora Cashe. Featured poets have included: Joy Kogawa, Rita Wong, Fred Wah, George McWhirter, Fiona Tin Wei Lam, Jim Wong-Chu, Sean Gunn and Tommy Tao. The past 3 years have also featured sneak previews of Asian Canadian plays including: Mixie and the Half-Breeds, The Quickie, and Twisting Fortunes.
Todd Wong visits Scotland for Homecoming Year, the 250th Anniversary of the birth of Scottish poet Robert Burns.
For the 2010 dinner, creator Todd Wong has just returned from Scotland after visiting the birthplace of Scotland poet Robert Burns, and researching the displays of Burns for Homecoming Scotland, and museum exhibits on Scottish history and emmigration to Canada. Wong is active in Chinese Canadian activities and visited Bejing and Xian in 1993. He hopes to combine a merger of Scottish-Canadian and Chinese-Canadian history and culture in the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner. Another extravaganza of culinary and cultural fusion are expected for the 2010 dinner. Details will be released each week leading up to the event. Special guest speakers, media hosts, poets and musicians are confirmed or being confirmed. The 2010 dinner will feature old traditions and new surprises, something borrowed and something brewed - especially created for the 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Dinner. Tell your friends, and put a table of 10 together to enjoy the singalongs! or come as a single or a double, and meet 8 brand new best friends for the evening at your table! It's the most fun and intimate dinner for 500 you will ever attend!
Wednesday, December 2
Kilts culture in Vancouver: Kilts Night on Thursday + December ceildh on Sat night
by
Todd
on Wed 02 Dec 2009 01:17 PM PST
Every 1st Thursday of each month, I usually meet with my kilted friends at Doolin's Irish Pub at Granville and Nelson St in Vancouver. Free Music starts at 9pm with Halifax Wharf Rats - if there isn't a hockey game on. It's always lots of fun, and a great way to meet people. After attending the Homecoming Scotland ceilidh here in Edinburgh at The Hub. I am ready to go for another one. It's really easy to do, as the callers give a demonstration and tell people what to do. eg. turn left, grab the right hand, etc etc.
Big Secret: Wear a Kilt and ask for a free pint of Guiness Beer. more »
Saturday, October 3
Orchid Ensemble creates East meets Middle East featuring Jewish and Chinese music!
by
Todd
on Sat 03 Oct 2009 09:41 AM PDT
Here is the latest from my friend Lan Tung and Orchid Ensemble:
2009 Orchid Ensemble Concert
East meets Middle East in the Orchid Ensemble’s New Show
The Orchid Ensemble & Vancouver Community College present
Ten Thousand Miles to Kai-Feng more »
Thursday, September 10
2nd Annual Accordion Noir Festival happens this weekend Sept 11,12,13
by
Todd
on Thu 10 Sep 2009 12:14 PM PDT
ACCORDIONS TAKE OVER VANCOUVER for ONE WEEKEND.
It's the 2nd Annual Accordion Noir Festival
September 11,12,13  Here is information from Rowan LipkovitsExhaustive information about all three festival days should be up at http://bit.ly/ANfest , but to summarize: *
Friday night, Sept 11th, Geoff Berner will be a guest on the Accordion
Noir radio show at CFRO 102.7 fm from 9:30 through 10:30 pm.
Meanwhile, up Main street at Cafe Montmartre (4362 Main Street), Rowan
will be hosting a varied program of virtuous squeezebox players in
small groups from 8 pm through closing time (after midnight), featuring
the ivory-tickling of Joanna Chapman-Smith, Barbara Adler, Dawn Zoe,
Tina Tew, Andy Fielding, with Mezamazing and the Creaking Planks
closing things out. By donation. * Saturday, Sept 12th, at 4
pm, an accordion parade will be departing (weather permitting) from the
southeast corner of Grandview Park (Commercial Drive at Charles Street)
to squeeze along the seven blocks to the day's venue, the WISE Hall
(1882 Adanac Street at Victoria Drive). 45-minute workshops begin at
4:15 pm, starting with an accordion repair and maintenance session led
by Rickey Mann, then an accordion composing session led by Andy
Fielding, and closing with an accordion history talk by Bruce Triggs of
Accordion Noir! An accordion film festival of sorts should get
underway around 6:30 pm, and close to 8 pm, we should be beginning the
main evening performances: Story from the Maritimes, Jason Webley of
Washington State (though he does spend a lot of time touring in Russia)
and Vancouver's own Geoff Berner. The evening promises further
surprises and special guests, but you'll just have to come out to know
for sure what they're going to be! All-day tickets for Saturday will
be $20 at the door, or $15 for just the closing concert portion.
Friday, September 4
Final dragon boat races for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy team Saturday Sept 5th @ Science World/False Creek
by
Todd
on Fri 04 Sep 2009 07:41 PM PDT
It's the final dragon boat regatta of the 2009 season in VancouverLast Gasp dragon boat regatta Sep 5 Saturday @ Science World/False Creek This will be the first public dragon boat race in Canada that features 10 person dragon boats. These boats were first used in Vancouver for the World Police and Fire Games in August. The Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team started their racing season with practices in the last week of February, the first race on May 2 in Burnaby's Barnet Marine Park, the Dragon Zone regatta on June 7th, and the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival on June 20 and 21st. We entered the Richmond Festival for our first time, and came 4th in the A division. We traveled to Vernon for July 25/26, as it is our favorite race of the year on beautiful Kalamalka Lake. We will next enter the UBC Day of the Long Boats and the Ft. Langley Cranberry Festival Regatta, to race in voyageur canoes. But first.... we have to race Saturday Sep 5th at the Last Gasp regata. Dragon Zone beside Science World, at Creekside Park, Vancouver BC. Please come cheer us on! Here's the message from our magnificient manager Tzhe Lam:
'ello Gung Haggis,
I have finally received the race grid from Dragon Zone and it looks like the first races of the day start at 9am.
Our
first race of the Day will be at 9:55am so we will need to marshall at
9:35 if they are on time which means I would like everyone to be at
Dragon Zone at 9am at the very latest.
This is so that we have
enough time to setup tents and get organized as well as make sure we
get the final roster into the Officials so that we can race.
If you have not signed the roster yet make sure you arrive early so that you can do so.
Also bring me your $20 race fee if you have not yet paid me!!!
Our second race will be between 12pm and 12:45pm depending on our placing in our first race
Race 3 will be most like between 2:15 and 3pm depending on our times
Race 4 1000m will be between 3:20pm - 4:20pm again determined by overall time.
These are rough estimates of time and can and will change on race day depending how quick/slow they get the races out.
As always bring food and drink of your choice to the event. Preferably something that won't make you sick while paddling.
Fans and supporters are welcome.
Tzhe
Thursday, August 27
2 more concerts of Enchanted evenings at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Gardens - featuring Silk Road and Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble
by
Todd
on Thu 27 Aug 2009 12:35 PM PDT
The final 3 Enchanted Evenings concerts at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Gardens all feature musicians that have performed at past Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinners.
 Silk Road duo Qiu Xia and Andrew performed last year with African dancer Jackie Esombe and percussionist Pepe Danza - photo T. Wong Last week celtic ensemble Blackthorn performed August 21. This Friday Aug. 28, Erhu specialist Ji-Rong Huang artistic director of Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble takes stage. On Sept 4, Silk Road Music performs as a quartet, led by Qiu Xia He and Andre Thibault. Qiu Xia and Andre have performed many times at Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinners since 2004. Silk Road Music Ensemble was featured in the 2004 CBC television performance special "Gung Haggis Fat Choy".
Blackthorn and Ji-Rong both came to the 2008 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner. Blackthorn has an incredible repertoire of Celtic songs that they kept pulling out of their hats. Ji-Rong and I performed 2 songs on accordion and erhu - Galloping Horse and Hungarian Dance No. 5 - which he also plays solo.
Summer Concert Series Doors open at 7:00pm, and all shows begin at 7:30pm
Tickets $18 for non-members,
$15 for Garden Society Members
VANCOUVER CHINESE MUSIC ENSEMBLE- August 28
A rich showcase of traditional Chinese instruments
SILK ROAD- September 4
World Music with a Chinese flair
Tickets and info, contact 604.662.3207 ext. 208 or
email assistant@vancouverchinesegarden.com
reservations are recommended
Sunday, August 2
Blackthorn celtic music band at Fort Langley for BC Day!
by
Todd
on Sun 02 Aug 2009 02:51 PM PDT
Blackthorn is playing at Historic Fort Langley.
Blackthorn is comprised of some of my favorite musicians: Michael on guitar/vocals, Michelle on flute/pennywhistle/vocals, Tim on bass/bodrana and Rosie on fiddle/vocals. Blackthorn was our featured band at the 2008 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year dinner.
Historic Fort Langley is the birthplace of BC, where Gov. James Douglas signed the proclamation almost 150 years and 9 months ago.
Monday,
Aug 03 | 6:30pm | Brigade Days
Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada, BCBrigade
Days is held every year over the BC Day long weekend in August.
Historically, Brigade was when the fur trappers came down from their
trap lines to the fort, to trade, some took their annual baths and
looked for a new spouse, and in general caught up with friends they
hadn't seen since the year before. Blackthorn will be bathed and on stage Monday evening. |
AND NOW WE HAVE OUR OWN CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE...
Friday, July 31
Powell St. Festival celebrates Japanese Canadian heritage - even if you are half-Japanese or non-Japanese
by
Todd
on Fri 31 Jul 2009 02:51 PM PDT
I like attending the Powell St. Festival. Somewhere in my clothes drawer I have a t-shirt from the 10th Anniversary festival back in 1986.
 This year's Powell Street Festival will take place at Woodland Park - moving Eastward between Clark Drive and Commercial Drive, North of Venables St. - but South of Hastings St. - photo of 2007 festival by Todd Wong Many of my friends have Japanese ancestry such as Jeff Chiba Stearns, John Endo Greenaway, Julie Tamiko Manning, or Joy Kogawa.... I grew up folding origami cranes, and relating to Japanese culture in a Pan-Asian-Canadian kind of way...I have even performed my accordion at the Powell St. Festival main stage. One year I played with my friend Sean Gunn as part of the "Number One Son" band... or maybe it was under the name of "Yellow Lackey Dogs."
My friend Walter Quan is always there to sell his unique "sushi candles" and once when he was wearing a Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team cotton shirt, he was asked if he was "Todd Wong."
 Walter Quan and his sushi candles booth at the 2007 Powell Street Festival - photo Todd Wong  Check out the Powell Street Festival on Saturday and Sunday.Here's a great article in the Vancouver Sun by Kevin Griffin: Powell Street Festival: Metro Vancouver's Japanese Canadians celebrate a resilient cultureJulia Aoki, volunteer coordinator for the Powell Street Festival. Photograph by: Glenn Baglo, Vancouver Sun. VANCOUVER — Unlike other festivals that strive ...
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2010 GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY Dinner
January 31, 2010
Contact Firehall Arts Centre:
phone 604.689.0926
2010 prices
SINGLE TICKET
$60 + $5 service charge = $65
Student price is $50 + $4.50 = $54.50 (must show student high school or university ID)
Children's price is $40 + $4.00 = $44 (ages 13 and under).
Reservations for tables of 10
$600 + lower service charge
WHAT: GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY: Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner - 12th Annversary Dinner, celebrating 251st Anniversary of Robert Burns' birth + incoming Chinese New Year of the Tiger.
WHEN:
6PM January 31 2010, SUNDAY
doors open 5pm, Dinner 6pm
WHERE: Floata Chinese Restaurant,
#400-180 Keefer St.
Media Inquiries
Call Gung Haggis Productions / Todd Wong
direct: 778-846-7090
email: gunghaggis at yahoo dot ca
CULTURE:
Our Performers
create something special for us every year with traditional and contemporary performances featuring everything in-between and beyond!
FOOD: A quirky fusion/mix/buffet of
Scottish Canadian and Chinese Canadian culture 10 course Chinese banguet dinner
2004 - The debut of Gung Haggis Won-Ton
2005 - Haggis lettuce wrap!
2007 - Haggis dim sum appetizer buffet
2008 - Scotch tastings! + debut of Gung Haggis parade dragon!
2009 - debut of Gung Haggis Fat Choy Pipes & Drums band + auction of 37 year old special edition Famous Grouse whisky + scotch tastings of Famous Grouse, The Macallan and Highland Park.
Watch for more surprises in 2010!
Description of 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with CBC News anchor Gloria Macarenko and Media colunist Catherine Barr
featuring performers: bagpiper Joe McDonald and Mad Celts, Silk Road Music's Qiu Xia He and Andre Thibault, Opera Soprano Heather Pawsey and DJ Timothy Wisdom, BC Book Prize winner Vancouver poet Rita Wong + poet traslator Tommy Tao, Playwright Adrienne Wong and a scene from "Mixie and The Half-Breeds"
Description of 2008 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with Media colunist Catherine Barr
featuring performers: , celtic band Blackthorn, bagpiper Joe McDonald and Brave Waves, Ji-Rong Huang on erhu, Film maker Ann-Marie Fleming, Vancouver poet laureate George McWhirter, Playwright Grace Chin and a scene from "The Quickie"
Description of 2007 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with CBC Radio's Priya Ramu,
featuring performers:
Silk Road Music,
Heather Pawsey,
Brave Waves,
Leora Cashe,
No Luck Club,
Dr. Ian Mason (Burns Club of Vancouver)
Lensey Namioka - Author "Half and Half"
Margaret Gallagher,
"Twisting Fortunes" (sneak preview of play)
Description of 2006 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
with co-host with CityTV's Prem Gill
featuring performers:
Rick Scott & Harry Wong, The Shirleys, Joe McDonald & Brave Waves, Sean Gunn, author Joy Kogawa,
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Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team
for lots of summer fun, fitness and friendship. We are a social team full of cultural vigor, that likes to eat.
We have been featured on television, local, national and international. We have a unique and internationally famous fundraiser dinner event.
We practice starting March
Sunday 1:30 pm -3:30 pm
Tuesday 6pm-7:45pm
We meet at Dragon Zone clubhouse - just south of Science World in Creekside Park above the Aquabus and dragon boat docks.
Our coach Todd Wong has 15+ years of experience including novice, recreational and competitive levels, and both community and corporate teams.
Our 2008 season took us to races in Burnaby, Vancouver, Vernon, Vancouver Taiwanese race, UBC, Ft. Langley.
It was our strongest team ever and we are proud of our race performances.
For more information:
Click on
Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team information
phone: 778-846-7090
e-mail: gunghaggis at yahoo dot ca
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