This weekend: go to Africa, laugh at some Asians, and Eat!

BY JOSEPH PLANTA

Friday, 26 May 2006

VANCOUVER - Who is the Chung King, and why is he returning? Well, find out tonight and Saturday night at the Roundhouse (the corner of Davie and Pacific in Yaletown), when for the seventh year in a row, the Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre hosts their Asian Comedy Night.

I'm told it's a hilarious evening with sketches and stand up from such comics as Ewan Chung, Philip Gurney, Jae Suh, Janina Gavankar, Charles Kim, Tom Chin, Kermet Apio, and Jeffery Yu. The kicker is OPM, as in Open People's Mind, it's a comedy troupe, who've won the coveted Rice Bowl three-times. Anyway, their send-ups of Bobby Flay, Tyra Banks, and Kim Jong-Il, sound like a program not to miss.

Get tickets for this riotously entertaining evening at their website: www.vact.ca; they're $18.00 in advance, or $21.00 at the door. Plus, for an extra $5.00, you can party with the cast after the show, at two restaurants near the Roundhouse.

Here at THECOMMENTARY.CA, we're fans of the work done by the Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre. They're energetic and they provide entertainment that's fun. And if they can shatter a stereotype or debunk a myth or two while at it, then all the more better.

***

Opening today at BC Place Stadium, and running through Sunday is the annual Eat! Vancouver: The Everything Food + Cooking Festival. My colleague Michael Kwan will be reporting on the flavour of the event in the coming days, but do check it out-and you ought to, because it's a lot of tasty fun. I mean, who amongst us doesn't eat? There's a wine and beer tasting pavilion, that's always popular, and the 'Bite of Vancouver' venture, is a boffo way to get tasty appetiser sized tastings from some of the city's best menus all in the neighbourhood of $1.20 to $3.00 a serving. As they say, it's a great place to go for lunch, and stay for dinner this weekend.

It's $12.75 for adult admission, $10.00 for seniors, with a discounted rate for those under 14. And there's much to see, browse, smell, and taste. From ice sculpture contests to celebrity chefs like Rob Feenie and Bob Blumer, doing their thing, plus samples throughout, it's a fine way to spend your weekend. Also, this year, they've got a side expo, called Pets Eat Too! Therein you'll find food selections and suggestions geared for pets. Check out their website for more information: http://www.eat-vancouver.com.

***

Earlier this month, I was to have taped an interview with Scott Griffin, about his new book, My Heart is Africa (Thomas Allen, 2006). Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties on my part, we were unable to tape, but I ought to direct your attention to the book, because it's an interesting volume on Griffin's journey to Africa aboard his Cessna, which he piloted from Gander Bay, Newfoundland into Nairobi, Kenya. And in the course of the book, the plane crashes. Without giving more away, let's just say it does make for quite an adventure.

Griffin is the custodian of the prestigious poetry prize that bears his name, and he's written a fascinating memoir on volunteering with the Flying Doctors Service in the two years he spent in Africa. The organisation flies to remote regions in the continent providing medical aid and personnel to those that critically need it.

Why would Griffin leave the comforts of his Canadian lifestyle? Well, that's the gist of his message, to break out of the mould of comfort and seek the romanticism of adventure. And there's no better impetus once you've read this memoir: My Heart is Africa: A Flying Adventure, by Scott Griffin, $26.95, published by Thomas Allen (ISBN: 0887621910).

***

And this observation if you will. Have you noticed the ubiquity of folks who've eschewed dying their fading hair, and have decidedly gone grey? The prematurely grey are keeping the hand God gave them, and it seems like it's in fashion. You've got Anderson Cooper on the television, George Clooney on the big screen, and this new American Idol, Taylor Hicks sporting locks that have seen darker days.

-30-

Questions and comments may be sent to: editor@thecommentary.ca

An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE.