Barry Smith Presents Every job I've ever had: Barry Smith (Jesus in Montana, American Squatter, Baby Book) isn't exactly what you'd call "ambitious" when it comes to careers. He's managed to resist actual "adult" employment and get by on a lifetime of odd jobs-some odder than others. Using words, pictures, sound, and video, this multimedia comedy examines the employment consequences of a life spent following one's bliss.
First Thing: Fringe Festival
Choose from over 600 shows at the un-juried, uncensored Vancouver International Fringe Festival, where you'll find hits from this year's Fringe circuit as well as diamonds in the rough. Most of the performances are on Granville Island, but also make sure to check out the BYOV (Bring Your Own Venue) shows in all kinds of unlikely locales including a backyard, a fire escape, an apartment and even a pedicab (until Sept. 19, vancouverfringe.com). For more great performing arts, check out the Electric Company's film noir-inspired Tear The Curtain! at the Stanley (until Oct. 10, artsclub.com), or the New Forms Festival, which features groundbreaking media arts (until Sept. 18, newformsfestival.com). Want some theatre for the wee ones? Check out popular bunny siblings Max and Ruby at the Centre, or DJ Lance Rock and his many colourful friends at Yo Gabba Gabba! Live at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, where proceeds go to Childfind (Saturday and Sunday, ticketmaster.ca). And if you really want to treat your eyes, see new works by revered Canadian painter Gordon Smith, who, at the age of 91, still paints every day (until Oct. 9, equinoxgallery.com).
Vancouver Home and Interior Design Show
Catch the home reno bug at the Vancouver Home and Interior Design Show, where you can learn how to green your home, wire it up for full-throttle audio and video, cook unforgettable dishes, make a dramatic entrance - using doors, that is - and check out all the latest design trends that will leave the Joneses begging for mercy (vancouverhomeandinteriordesign.com).
Charity Runs
Enjoy a workout and raise funds for fine four-legged charities at the BC SPCA's Paws for a Cause, happening all around the province tomorrow (bcspca.com), or the Walk for the Kitties at Jericho Beach (tomorrow, vokra.ca). Still have a little fuel left in the tank? Don't miss the Paddle for Kids at Creekside Park, the Walk for Muscular Dystrophy at Jericho Park, the B.C.-wide SuperWalk for Parkinson's, or the Tee Off for Transplant at Gleneagles Golf Course and more - all happening this weekend.
Fall Fairs
Zone out at the Davie Day Street Festival, which features an arts and culture zone, a lifestyle zone, a sustainability zone, a kids zone, a doggy zone, and a heritage zone complete with period costumes, foods and antique cars (Saturday, davieday.com). Or bring some yays and neighs to your weekend and head for the Southlands Country Fair, where festivities include horse riding demos, pony rides and a country market (southlandsridingclub.com). Heading out of town? Enjoy fall fairs in Bella Coola, Creston, Windermere, 100 Mile House, Kootenay Lake, Nakusp, Summerland, Williams Lake, Rossland, Cowichan, Port Alberni and more.
Nature Tours
Unearth the dark secrets of Vancouver's crown jewel - and separate fact from well-worn fiction - on a Myths and Mysteries tour of Historic Stanley Park with interpreter Jolene Cummings (Sunday, stanleyparkecology.ca). For another event with legs - and a few gills - join the Coho Walk or Run, which includes a post-run salmon barbecue, a beer and wine garden, kids stuff and plenty of fish (Sunday, westvancouver.com). Or try a guided tour of Musqueam Creek, Vancouver's last wild salmon stream (Sunday, falsecreekwatershed.org).
Jennifer Van Evra, Special to The Globe and Mail
fivethingsbc@globeandmail.com