Spring is almost in the air and St. Patrick's Day is this weekend. We're continuing with our popular feature - our staff's Top 5 (Or More) Things To Do This Weekend. We have some great offerings for the March 16 to 18 weekend in New Westminster.
1 Get eating on Saturday, March 17 for the St. Barnabas Church community pancake breakfast, running from 8: 30 to 11 a.m. at 1010 Fifth Ave. Admission is by donation, event is sponsored by the New Westminster Lions Club, and all proceeds go to a worthy cause.
2 Get dining and drinking for a good cause on Saturday, March 17 for the St. Patrick's Charity Banquet at Roma Hall at 940 Ewen Ave. in Queens borough. Cost is $50 per person, which includes a six-course Italian meal with wine included. Live band of continental music by Viva. Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. This semi-formal charity banquet supports the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation.
3 Get celebrating St. Patrick's Day at any of a number of Royal City drinking establishments that will be celebrating with green beer. The Dublin Castle at 319 Governors Ct. will have Irish dancers and authentic Irish far all day long, with doors opening at 11 a.m. The Met Bar & Grill at 411 Columbia St. will have Celtic music all day, while the Paddle wheeler Pub at the Quay will have Wheat in the Barley Celtic Funk playing. Most, if not all Royal City pubs and bars will be doing something special for March 17, so these three are just a tip of the iceberg of what's available in the city.
4 Get cultural on Sunday, March 18 as City Stage New West presents Queen Lear by Eugene Stickland, a concert reading of the Canadian comedy about an aging actress cast as King Lear. Directed by Colleen Winton, featuring Marilyn Norry, Rachel Harrison and cellist Peggy Lee performing her Jessie-award winning score, 2 p.m., Holy Trinity Cathedral, 514 Carnarvon St. Tickets are $15 or $12 for seniors/students at www.brownpaper tickets.ca. Info: www.citystagenewwest. org.
5 Get auditioning on Sunday, March 18 for the Vagabond Players production of The Winslow Boy, written by Terence Rattigan and directed by Johnny Duncan, 7 p.m. at the Bernie Legge Theatre in Queen's Park.
Set against the strict codes of conduct and manners of the age, The Winslow Boy is based on a father's fight to clear his son's name after the boy is expelled from Osborne Naval College for stealing a postal order. Clearing the boy's name was imperative for the family's honour; had they not done so, they would have been shunned by their peers and society. The boy's life would have been wrecked by the stain on his character.
Characters to be cast include: Ronnie Winslow (13-16); Arthur Winslow (50-60); Grace Winslow (45-55); Catherine Winslow (late 20s); Dickie Winslow (early 20s); Violet, the maid (50-60); John Watherstone (late 20s to early 30s); Desmond Curry (40-50); Miss Barnes (35-45); Fred, the photographer (40-50); Sir Robert Morton (40-45). British accents are required.
Cast members must be members of Vagabond Players ($15 fee) prior to the first rehearsal. Info: www.vagabond players.ca. The show will run from May 31 to June 23.
Email your Top 5 ideas to calendar@ royalcityrecord.com or send them to alau@ royalcityrecord.com. You can also check out our full arts and events calendar listings on our website's homepage at www.royalcity record.com.
