I love Christmas, I really do. I just don't like how early it seems to arrive.
However, the Van Dop Gallery seems to be going out of its way to make the holiday season worthwhile, so I'll happily write about it anyway.
The gallery is continuing its Spirit of the Season exhibitions this weekend, with a special event featuring the work of jewelry artist Joanna Lovett and chef Ann Kirsebom.
Guests are invited to pop in to the gallery at 421 Richmond St. to check out Lovett's collection of "sophisticated and whimsical" jewelry and Kirsebom's award-winning line of gourmet products with spirits.
It's all on from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The following weekend, on Nov. 30, Spirit of the Season features new works from Angie Au Hemphill.
Check out www.vandopgallery.com for more details, or call 604-521-7887.
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Well, this isn't really about the arts, but it's about entertainment - at least, I call eating entertainment, and I'm sure I'm not alone.
Here's a lovely tidbit I discovered on Twitter today.
For those of us who aren't particularly fabulous holiday chefs, here's a delightful idea from Re-Up BBQ (who, of course, have become a wonderful fixture at River Market).
They're teaming up with Urban Digs Farm of Burnaby to offer a box of wonderful local, ethical food for Christmas dinner.
The Christmas Beasty Box includes a local, naturally raised, free-run turkey, brined and ready for the oven, with house smoked ethically raised bacon and Urban Digs' free range eggs for breakfast, plus cranberry sauce, organically grown potatoes, squash and beets to go with your turkey dinner.
You can buy a small, medium or large turkey box, with prices starting at $5.25 per pound plus $41. As an added bonus, you can even order your turkey smoked (for an extra $35), so all you have to do is heat it up.
Boxes can be picked up at Re-Up BBQ at River Market, at Urban Digs Farm at 4992 Byrne Rd. in South Burnaby, or at KJM Country Gardens in Vancouver.
OK, I've changed my mind, I guess I'm OK with Christmas arriving after all.
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Explore the history of New Westminster through the stories of one family in a new book.
Evelyn Sangster Benson, whose family has lived in the same house in New Westminster for five generations, has just published a new book, A Century in a Small Town.
Benson will launch the book at the New Westminster Public Library on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 2 p.m. She'll read some stories from the book, and copies will be available for sale and signing at a reception.
To register, call 604-527-4667 or email [email protected].
The library is at 716 Sixth Ave., uptown.
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Looking for a unique Christmas gift idea? Why not chip in to help with City Stage New West's Kickstarter fundraising campaign?
We wrote about the campaign in the Nov. 20 Record, and it's gaining some momentum - as of the writing of this column, a total of $550 had been pledged towards the $3,000 campaign.
The local theatre group has turned to the crowd-source funding site to help bring in money towards the cost of a professional cast recording of Stump City Stories. The original musical by George Ryan, commissioned by City Stage in 2009, tells the history of New Westminster and B.C. in song.
A $25 pledge will get you a holiday gift special, including a future CD. In December, you or your gift recipient will receive a personalized Happy Holidays Card, a program and an early digital download of the musical's signature number Stump City.
Higher donation levels will get you even more - including sing-along sheet music signed by the author.
Check out the campaign at www.tinyurl.com/KickstarterStumpCity.
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Do you have a local, arts-related Christmas event that I should know about?
I'm compiling a list of New Westminster Christmas concerts and special arts events, and I'd love to hear from anyone out there who's hosting one!
Send me your details to [email protected], or find me on Facebook, facebook.com/JulieLMacLellan.
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OK, friends, it's time to trumpet your own success and tell us why you oughta be one of New West's most awesome things.
The Record is running a Nifty New West Facebook campaign at www.facebook.com/RoyalCityRecord. It's a simple idea: Once a day for a month, we'll be saluting someone or something that makes New West awesome.
This is where you come in. Get onto our Facebook page and send in your suggestions.
There must be lots of artists, arts groups and passionate people of all sorts who are worth making the nifty list!
So don't delay. Go to the Facebook page or tweet the Record, @TheRecord - use the hashtag #niftynewwest.
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Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment ideas to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
