Hey, Hey Ocean!
At Coaster’s, catch the Vancouver-based poppy rhythms of Hey Ocean!
Gaining a reputation as innovators in the modern do-it-yourself music industry; independently laying the groundwork for their career (their first album was released on Pop Music, a label established by Hey Ocean! members.) Reviewers have praised their stage shows as high energy performances from a “quirky quartet.”
“Hey Ocean! will soon be everywhere,” cryptically promises the band’s MySpace page.
Coasters Bar and Grill, Friday and Saturday. at the door.
myspace.com/heyocean.
FILM
Tripping the light fantastic
Tragically, the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre are now remembered primarily for their fiery end. Few recall how, for 28 years, the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre were “focal points of serenity” amid the chaos of New York.
The 2008 documentary Man on Wire returns audiences to a time when the towers were architectural wonders rather than symbols of destruction.
In 1972, French tightrope walker Philippe Petit came upon a picture of the partially built towers in a magazine and became obsessed with the prospect of walking between them.
After two years of intense planning, Petit and a gang of accomplices entered the towers, strung a wire between them with a bow and arrow, and successfully pulled off the “artistic crime of the century.”
Structured like a heist film, its fast-paced re-enactments and high-energy pacing make Man on Wire the most riveting film featuring a French person ever made.
Man on Wire will be preceded by The Forgotten Woman, a film about the contemporary life of widows in India. It features no illegal tight-rope walking.
Friday at the Old Fire Hall. 7 p.m.: The Forgotten Woman. 9 p.m.: Man on Wire. Admission is .
A Canadian version of black history
If PBS’ saturation of Tuskegee Airmen documentaries hasn’t tipped you off, February is Black History Month.
Saturday’s Old Fire Hall film series will showcase five films examining subjects of Canadian black history.
Echoes in the Rink follows the story of NHL’er Willie O’Ree, the little-known “Jackie Robinson of hockey.” In 1958, O’Ree became the first black player in the league, instantly facing storms of prejudice from spectators and racially-motivated violence from rival players.
The Journey of Lesra Martin features the story of the young student who, along with three Canadian entrepreneurs, brought about the historic release of boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter after he had spent 20 years in jail for a wrongful murder conviction.
Premiering at Arts Underground, photographer Paul Gowdie takes a closeup look at what all the fuss is about with SKIN, a collection of sensual nude portraits of the human body.
Firehall films start at 7 p.m at the Old Fire Hall. SKIN premieres Friday at 5 p.m. at Arts Underground.
ART
Obligatory dog-related event listing
The MacBride Museum has dredged up a bunch of pictures of dogs to hang on the walls of Arts Underground. The photos will replace the former exhibition, which was a bunch of pictures of the Anglican Church.
Dogs have long played an exceptional role in the territory by pulling things, leading the blind and busting high school students for drugs, so it’s only fitting that they should be slotted for photographic commemoration.
Opening reception starts on Friday at 5 p.m. at Arts Underground.
DANCE
Barn-themed, unadulterated fun
There’s nothing like a good barn dance, even if it isn’t technically in a barn.
Either way, many a budding romance has been spawned in the sweaty, spinny moves of a square dance—expertly choreographed on the fly by the folky incantations of the square dance caller.
Music will be provided by Bob Kuiper and his aptly named Barndance Band.
Chaps and string ties are welcome, but not necessary.
Saturday at 8 p.m., Lorne Mountain Community Centre. Tickets at Aroma Borealis.
Non-barn-themed, unadulterated fun
If you don’t like your dancing associated with geometric forms, feel free to swing, skip and lindy hop to the jazzy riffs of Whitehorse’s finest student musicians. Trumpet, clarinet and saxophone alike will swell the ranks of the featured Junior Jazz Band, Senior Jazz Combo and “the BIG BAND.”
Under the age of 80? Don’t worry! Dancesport will be on hand to provide free dancing lessons.
Saturday, February 7, 7 p.m. at the Porter Creek Secondary School Cafeteria. Tickets: 667-8044 or 667-8665. (cash or cheque only). Tickets include a dessert and a drink.
SCULPTURE
Wooden marvels adorn Baked
The Sundog carvers are adding a notch to their territorial artistic prowess with a new exhibition of works at Baked Cafe.
Until March, the walls of the cafe will carry panels, panels, masks, paddles, prints and a drum—all birthed under the chisels and sandpaper of the youth carvers.
wild, hot…
Here comes the clap
Get your casual sex out of the way soon, before the snow melts and legions of Ontario summer tourists arrive, packing high rates of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea.
Recent studies show that rates of the gonorrhea—also known as “the clap”—
have septupled over the last four years in Ontario—with experts saying it’s only a matter of time before it reaches other provinces and territories.
RELIGION
Break out the bliss
On February 8, Buddhists across East Asia celebrate the day when Buddha achieved complete Nirvana. Buddha had long owned Nevermind and In Utero, but it was only when he obtained an obscure vinyl copy of Bleach that complete Nirvana was technically obtained.
SPORT
Fun activities infect Whitehorse
Over the weekend, legions of hardened young Yukon athletes will ruthlessly face off in an unmerciful test of “non-competitive sportsmanship and teamwork.”
At this weekend’s Polar Games, 700 Grade 5 and 6 students from across the territory will play each other in a series of ludicrously out-of-season sports such as floor hockey, beach volleyball and bowling.
Glenn Hart, the minister for Health and Social Services, is using the Polar Games as a launch vehicle for his Eat Right, Play Hard program encouraging students to make healthier eating choices “during and after” the Games.
The minister apparently determined that last year’s Eat Right, Kick Butt program was too racily named. Next year may well see the launch of the Eat Right, Achieve Adequate Proactivity Levels program.
FUN(D)RAISING
Contending for girdled fame
If women in period costumes have raised your suspicions that Whitehorse is harbouring a new polygamist sect, never fear, for they are merely contenders for the 2009 Sourdough Rendezvous Queen title.
For the next two weeks, look on as the seven contenders sell raffle tickets, make the oil-stained khaki masses feel all the more underdressed, and remind Yukon folk that, by the way, there was a gold rush here once.
Have a listing for Get Out!? Contact Tristin Hopper
at tristinh@yukon-news.com