Things To Do This Week - Sept 18-24, 2008

What do you want to do this week? If you're feeling uninspired, get off the couch and take your pick: break up your daily routine with a local comedy fest, enjoy the last bits of nice weather at a lantern festival, or polish up your version of “Cherry, Cherry” to sing along with the one and only Neil Diamond. If you're still not sold, simply enjoy the beauty of the changing season, get cozy at home as we settle into fall, or practice steeling yourself for the barrage of “Can you believe this rain?” that will surely come your way by the weekend.

Thursday, September 18 – Yuk Yuk's Comedy Festival

Yuk Yuk's Comedy Festival showcases Vancouver's funniest comics, continuing on until the 20th. This means that you won't have to sit through the painfully bad comics for a portion of your night – this is for sure Vancouver's funniest stand-up. Not only will you get to enjoy beer-spitting comedy, you will be entered to win door prizes and get free, yes free, popcorn. Find info on comics, ticket and event times at www.yukyuks.com.

Friday, September 19 – Night Of 2008 Lights Lantern Festival

This much-loved lantern festival makes it's way through Deer Lake Park to the sound of African djembe drums and features a fantastic fire show at the end of the night. Celebrate the fall equinox with this magical festival that's fun for the whole family, as you view hundreds of twinkling lantern installations that light up the park. Admission is free, and the festival starts at 7 p.m. For more info www.shadboltcentre.com.

Saturday, September 20 – Stereophonics For Some, Neil Diamond For Others

Today is a double concert announcement: first, it's Stereophonics performing from their latest CD Pull the Pin with guests People in Planes, playing at the Commodore at 9:30 p.m. However, like many decent indie shows that take place in smaller venues in Vancouver, it is sold out. If you can't get tickets somewhere online or don't want to shell out the cash in front of the venue, why not console yourself with a little Neil Diamond. For awhile now we've had to settle for Nearly Neil, but not this Saturday. The real Neil plays at GM Place at 7 p.m., and tickets are $117.50/52.50 (plus fees and service charges) at www.ticketmaster.ca.

Sunday, September 21, 2008 - Canary Derby

See some of Vancouver's top Tech Companies race soapbox cars they've designed to raise money for the Canary Foundation, which funds early cancer detection and intervention. Each soapbox will be raced by a company CEO, and will end at the steam clock on Water St. in Gastown. All funds will be donated to the BC Cancer Foundation to support early cancer detection. If you want to find out more, head onto www.canaryderby.com, or if you want to watch your company's CEO racing down the road in a hopefully sturdy soapbox, email rkerbel@bccancer.bc.ca. The event goes from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and includes lots of fun kid's' activities, a variety of food vendors and presentations.

Monday, September 22– Alicia Keys

Sunday's concert at the Orpheum is sold out, but you can still watch the multiple Grammy winner perform songs from her latest CD As I Am tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $47.25 to $122.75 (plus fees and service charges) at www.ticketmaster.ca (Orpheum Theatre, Seymour & Smithe).

Tuesday, September 23– 9th Annual Summer Visions Gala & Award Ceremony

Summer Visions is a sort of hybrid of film school and summer camp: an award-winning digital filmmaking program that allows youth aged 14 to 19 to get together for two weeks and learn more about writing, shooting and editing. Produced by the Education Department at Pacific Cinémathèque, in partnership with Dream Big Productions at Templeton Secondary in Vancouver, Summer Visions improves young filmmaker's skills, and tonight showcases the short digital videos that have been created with the help of experienced video instructors in a creative, supportive environment. Awards will also be given for Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound Design, Most Original Story, and Best Overall Video. Find out more at www.summervisions.ca.

Wednesday, September 24– SFU Sustainability Festival 2008

This year's SFU Sustainability Festival features a number of environmentally innovative companies and organizations, an eco-fashion show, photo contest, sustainability workshop, lots of live music and a refreshing beverage garden where you can sample delicious beers. There will be plenty of exhibits and vendors on hand to show their products, and you can learn more about local services and intiatives for change. The Sustainability Festival 2008 takes place at the Burnaby Campus from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, and it's free. Find more info at www.susfest.ca.