Things To Do This Week - Sept 4-10, 2008

Autumn is definitely in the air – no more bikini-clad Vancouverites strolling Kits Beach, fewer outdoor events, and a general dreariness on those really gray days as we make our way to work. Whether you're lamenting the decline of summer or looking forward to a beautiful Vancouver fall, here are some things to do this week:

Thursday, September 4, 2008 – The Black Crowes

The Black Crowes continue to stick to what they know best: straight up blues rock, and their latest album, Warpaint, is their first studio effort in seven years, but it doesn't stray far from the groups earlier, Stones-influenced roots. It's hard to believe that the bearded hip-shaker Chris Robinson and band have been playing for almost 20 years – that's 10 years pre-Kate Hudson. Also check out Vancouver's Rich Hope & His Evil Doers as the opening act. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre (Seymour and Smithe). Tickets are $65.50/35.50 plus fees and service charges at www.ticketmaster.ca.Thursday, September 4, 2008 – The Black Crowes

Friday, September 5, 2008 – Enchanted Evening Concert Series

Tonight is the last night of the critically-acclaimed concert series that takes place at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden (578 Carrall Street). It's not all classical: for the 15th season, new groups and old favourites are playing Asian, gypsy jazz, African, world and fusion music. The final show starts at 7:30 pm, with doors opening at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $18 for non-members, or $15 for Garden Society members, and reservations are recommended. Find out more at www.vancouverchinesegarden.com or call 604-662-3207 ext. 208.

Saturday, September 6, 2008 – Wellness Fair

Maybe too many summer cocktails have got you feeling sluggish, or you're in need of a mental pick-me-up - whatever ails you, the weekend's Wellness Fair on the North Shore is sure to have a solution. Listen to talks on homeopathy and naturopathic medicine like "Look After Your Body, It’s Where You Live" with Cathy Russell and "12 Steps to Healthy Living" with naturopath Dr. Karen McGee. Or come with a bag of Doritos and a Slurpee, because why should this Sunday be any different from the usual.

The fair is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and admission is free at Lynn Valley Library Square (1277 Lynn Valley). Find out more at www.nvdpl.ca.

Sunday, September 7, 2008 – TV On The Radio

New York City band TV On The Radio – think Radiohead meets Broken Social Scene meets Bowie - is at the Commodore Ballroom tonight (868 Granville St.) at 8 p.m. with guest Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson (Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter). Their newest album, Return to Cookie Mountain is steps ahead of their two earlier releases, probably part of the reason why the show quickly sold out – search for last minute tickets online or at the venue. Visit www.sealedwithakisspresents.com for upcoming shows and ticket info.

Monday, September 8, 2008 – Vancouver Latin American Film Festival

VLAFF continues until Sept. 14, showcasing a number of Latin American feature films, documentaries and shorts. The festival opens with the entertaining El Baño del Papa (The Pope's Toilet), about the Pope's upcoming visit to a poor Uruguyan town that has all of the city's residents hoping to make big money – including a man who uses all of his family's savings to build a pay toilet. Other festival events include a panel of women filmmakers, master lighting workshops and the ongoing Cinematography Fair.

The non-profit VLAFF started in 2003 to highlight the work of Latin American filmmakers and to bring attention to social and cultural issues in that region. Find all show info and admission prices at www.vlaff.org.

Tuesday, September 9 – Pinter's Briefs

Pinter's Briefs is a collection of short plays by Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter. Hilarious and offbeat, there are six short pieces and his acclaimed one-act play The Dumb Waiter. Performed by Blackbird Theatre, Pinter's Briefs is directed by John Wright and stars Anthony F. Ingram and Simon Webb. The show runs until Sept. 27, with tickets $27 for evening presentations and $20 for matinees, playing at the Presentation House Theatre (333 Chesterfield, North Vancouver). See www.blackbirdtheatre.ca for more info.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 – "we Declare" Spaces Of Housing

“we Declare” is an installation that showcases the sites where decisions regarding housing are made (from our communities all the way up to the UN). Vancouver and Vienna-based artists Sabine Bitter and Helmut Weber present the exhibition of photo-based images that illustrate city dynamics, communities, and the potential of architecture in inner city Vancouver. The series also includes a lecture by Berlin-based critic and curator Jochen Becker, Iranian journalist and blogger Omid Memarian, and a lecture by urbanist Neil Smith. “we Declare” runs until Sept. 27 at the Gallery Gachet (88 E. Cordova).Find out more at www.gachet.org.