Saturday November 7

History Walk
JAPANESE-CANADIANS AND THE LABOUR MOVEMENT A Walking Tour of Japantown
with Geoff Meggs and Lorene Oikawa
Saturday November 7, 10:30am–12pm
Meet at Vancouver Japanese Language School, 487 Alexander
The Powell Street district around Oppenheimer Park is drenched in the history of the labour movement and the Japanese-Canadian community. Geoff Meggs, Vancouver City Councillor, brings a journalist’s view and curiosity to the walk, while Lorene Oikawa, Vice President of BCGEU, shares her enthusiasm for the stories of the labour movement and Japanese-Canadian history. This walk explores the diminishing reminders of this historic district and the people that brought these streets to life. $10 for non-residents, pay what you can for local residents

Workshop
SACRED DANCE
Saturday November 7, 11am-1pm
radha yoga & eatery, 728 Main 2nd floor
Find spiritual support in the city through an “urban retreat” focused on reflection and spiritual practice. Express your devotion through the graceful movements of the Divine Mother prayer dance, a way to contact the intuitive power of the Feminine. Gain practical tools to help in your daily life. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a journal. Pre-register at 604-605-0011 or radhaevents@gmail.com. $25 session; stay for lunch add $10

Lecture Series
SUSTAINABILITY LECTURE
Saturday November 7, 2pm
radha yoga & eatery, 728 Main 2nd floor
To share the learning from radha’s Green Building upgrade project this past summer, experts in environment and community sustainability present inspiring and practical ideas to use in your home and life. Today’s lecture is “Light and Heat” with Pru Pinfold from Boyzk Architects. Followed by light refreshments. For more information call 604-605-0011 or www.radhavancouver.org. Free

Music in the Streets
DTES SAMBA BAND
Saturday November 7, 1:30pm & 2:30pm
Starts at Main & Hastings
Following the DTES Samba Band’s premiere at the 2008 Festival —when master percussion teacher Joseph ‘Pepe’ Danza began to teach DTES involved residents how to play Samba—the Band has stepped out of the ‘hood and made a number of appearances throughout Vancouver. The Festival is pleased to welcome them back again to play their spirit lifting get your body shakin’ popular Brazilian music in the streets of the neighbourhood. All processions start at the Carnegie Centre. Join in and dance along, or catch the music as it bounces by. All welcome. Free

Visual Arts – POSTPONED to Spring 2010
THE DOWNTOWN ART WALK
Saturday November 7, early afternoon
into the late evening
Various galleries & studios in the
Downtown Eastside
also Sun Nov 8
The first annual Downtown Art Walk is a new initiative that involves artists and galleries who reside in the Downtown Eastside opening their spaces to the public for viewing, demonstrations, education and sales. You are invited —with the aid of maps, signs and other media -—to explore these many studios, to interact with the artistic environment, to ask questions and to purchase works of art. Established in part to enhance both community relations and artistic collaboration, this project is sponsored by the DTES Community Arts Network with support from the City of Vancouver Great Beginnings program. Keep your eyes open for the Downtown Art Walk! For more information contact Rachel Zottenberg: rachelisgrace@gmail.com or Adrienne Butcher: artspaceaction@gmail.com. Free

Workshop – CANCELLED
TAIKO AND MOVEMENT with Leslie Komori
Saturday November 7, 5pm–8pm
DTES Women’s Centre, 302 Columbia
A workshop with percussionist Leslie Komori, a founding member of the all-women Japanese drumming group Sawagi Taiko and an artist who has sought to stretch the boundaries of taiko. Taiko is fun, energizing, empowering, great exercise and very social.  For both men and women age 16 and over. Light meal provided at 5pm, doors close at 5:30pm. Registration limited, to pre-register call Cynthia at 604-831-6815 or cpllow@gmail.com. Everyone welcome. By donation

Art Button Trading
HOT ONE INCH ACTION
Saturday November 7, 8pm
W2 Perel Gallery, 112 W. Hastings
Back by popular demand! W2 Community Media Art Society hosts the 6th Hot One Inch Action to bring together 50 artists, 50 buttons, and some hot button trading action with Vancouver’s hottest art audience. Conceived by Jim Hoehnle and Chris Bentzen in 2004, Hot One Inch Action is the original, one-night only show of art, music and social interaction. Chosen artists receive 20 free copies of their button. Submission deadline: Friday Oct 30 noon. For information www.hotaction.thisisplanb.net. Free

Community Celebration
AN AFTERNOON WITH BUD OSBORN
Saturday November 7, 3pm-5pm
Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main
Poet, rocker and champion of the homeless, Bud Osborn is a compassionate advocate for the people living in the Downtown Eastside. Mention Bud’s name and people light up with enthusiasm as to how much his work and his words have affected them. Regularly included in the Carnegie newsletter, his poems are as powerful today as the day they were written. We are honoured that Bud has welcomed this opportunity to celebrate his achievements and share his love and compassion with friends, old and new alike. Special guests to take part in the afternoon include: a musical collaborator of Bud’s in the group The Lonesome Monsters, Graham Ord will improvise a piece on saxophone; punk rocker turned novelist Chris Walter may read or perhaps just talk with Bud; fellow poets Sandy Cameron and Diane Wood will share their words and voices; singer and musician Earle Peach may get everyone involved; and Richard Tetrault will show some images from Signs of the Times a collaborative book of Bud’s poems and Richard’s prints. Everyone welcome. Free

Community Celebration
ILLUMINATING THE FOUR CORNERS
Saturday November 7, 8pm-9:30pm
Corner of Main and Hastings. Rain or shine
“We are here. We are here. We are here.” Sandy Cameron
Come on down and look around!  See our Four Corners illuminated like never before! This open-air multi-level evening opens with a welcome song from Squamish elder Sam George. You’ll see images of the faces of Downtown Eastside community members projected onto buildings and through windows; buildings lit up with lights; musicians and poets performing from windows, balconies and soap boxes;  music of the Downtown Eastside Samba Band; a theatrical re-enactment (with members of the Carnegie Community Action Project) of the 1935 occupation by unemployed workers at the Carnegie Museum; neighbourhood banners by artist Diane Wood; Chinese lion dancers; songs from the Carnegie Village Choir Project led by Beverly Dobrinsky; ending with a street celebration on the four corners. Ohh…and did we say ‘popcorn’?
We are here: to illuminate this corner – this neighbourhood – this community. We are here: standing proud and saying “This is who we are. This is our community, the heart of Vancouver.”
Illuminating the Four Corners has been made possible with the support of the City of Vancouver Great Beginnings Program.Free

Oral History
FOUR CORNERS MEMORY TABLE
Saturday November 7, 8pm-9:30pm
Carnegie Community Centre
Main floor, 401 Main
Grab a seat at the Memory Table and get on the record! Share your favourite memory of Hastings and Main: the first, the funniest, the saddest, the most moving memories of the Four Corners from yesterday or years ago. Share your wishes and hopes for this historical part of our city. Kathleen Flaherty is at the table to make an audio recording of your memories, which will be edited into an audio feature for next year’s 2010 Festival. This is the first of many parts of Vancouver Moving Theatre’s Downtown Eastside Oral History Project.