If you take in the Chinese New Year parade in Chinatown this Sunday, keep an eye out for the Water Dragon created and built by kids from the Downtown Eastside under the umbrella of the Community Arts Council of Vancouver. The dragon was created at a playshop in Kitsilano, where five dragon humps were built for the body. The tail was made from two black umbrellas with red and gold "bits and bobbles." More than a dozen kids took part at an event in Oppenheimer Park to build the dragon, which will dance in the parade alongside the Carnegie Street Band. The parade starts at noon from the Millennium Gate on Pender Street between Shanghai Alley and Taylor Street, before proceeding east along Pender, south onto Gore then west onto Keefer before dispersing at Columbia.
JAN. 26 TO FEB. 6
The Bloedel Conservatory plays backdrop to the Rare and Exotic Orchid Show now through Feb. 6. Volunteers from the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Orchid Society will offer free orchid tours three times a day, 11 a.m., noon and 2 p.m., and will also be on hand until 3 p.m. to answer questions about growing, potting and identifying these jewels of the flower world. With admission rates of $5 for adults and $2.50 for children, an afternoon at the conservatory remains one of the best deals in town.
JAN. 29
The Lunar New Year has also brought new feathered friends to Stanley Park. Naturalist and expert bird watcher Bill Kincaid will guide a two-hour tour Sunday, during which he'll point out the park's varied and beautiful bird life. Meet at the Stanley Park Nature House on Lost Lagoon under the viewing platform at the corner of Chilco and Alberni streets at 9 a.m. To reserve a spot go to stanleyparkecology.ca. Participation is by donation.
JAN. 30 ONGOING
The Community Arts Council of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»is once again offering a number of workshops as part of its Community Arts Networking Series, beginning Jan. 30 with Social Media-Let's Support Each Other. Other workshops include Incorporating your Community Group, Grant Writing I, Grant Writing II, and Women in the Arts. For more information and dates, visit cacv.ca.
UNTIL FEB. 20
The Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Cherry Blossom Festival is looking for dancers to take part in a community flash mob event. Aspiring dancers can learn the "funky" choreography online at home before auditioning or learn the Cherry Blossom Umbrella Dance routine beginning Feb. 20 at local community centres. Sign up at vcbf.ca. My goal is to convince a certain Courier Kudos and Kvetches writer to hold a flash mob right here in the office.
FEB. 4
An event to raise money for victims and aid in the massive environmental cleanup efforts resulting from an oil spill off the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand coincides with Waitangi Day Feb. 4. Waitangi Day in New Zealand commemorates the 1840 signing of the Treaty Of Waitangi, that country's founding document. The day-long Waitangi Day Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»2012 party takes place Feb. 4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Library Square Public House, 300 West Georgia. Expect Kiwi music and DJs, a Kiwi food menu, raffles and a "big prize giveaway." The cost is $10 at the door with all proceeds dedicated to the Rena Oil Spill Disaster relief fund.
Twitter: @sthomas10
