Get Cherry Bombed
On Saturday, may the fourth be with you. And on Sunday, get down to Pearkes Rec Centre for Victoria’s Ultimate Hobby and Toy Fair, taking over the arena for the 11th time.
Collectors, enthusiasts, the young and the young at heart are equally excited about the opportunity to view and buy new and old collectible toys, dolls, Barbies, Comics, diecast cars, trains, LEGO, models, GI Joe, Star Wars, Transformers, action figures, video games and more, with more than 90 vendors at 200 tables. Some vendors are coming from as far away as Quebec.
“With the popularity of things like Antiques Roadshow, there’s always people looking for that fabulous deal,” says host Candice Woodward, who owns Cherry Bomb Toys with her husband Biagio. “One guy bought rare Black Hole figuring for $10 and it ended up being worth $1,000.”
Biagio agrees: “People from all over the world come to find rare items like that.”
On top of rare collectibles, there will be cheap and cheerful tables offering items for 25 cents as well.
The event also offers a silent auction (with proceeds going to the MS Society) and Charity Carnival Games (including Angry Birds Live, Feed the Hut and Star Wars Shoot-out), with proceeds going to the B.C. Children’s Hospital.
Even food vendors on site will be making a donation to charity, in lieu of payment to attend the event.
Jade Olivia Braddock and Cyril Alfred Blake, local authors of An Awaited Reckoning, a novel about werewolves taking over Vancouver Island; and illustrator Glen Mullaly will be on hand as special guests.
Bikes built by the AC/BC Angle Choppers Bike Club will be on hand showing off custom bikes built by kids.
There will be door prizes, a pedal car raffle and a war hammer “Blood Bowl” tournament as well.
Adult admission is $5 (9am-3pm) and kids are free. Those wanting early bird access (8am-9am) can buy a ticket at the door ($15) or at Cherry Bomb Toys (1410 Broad, $7 until Saturday). ultimatetoyfair.com. M
The Golden Dragon
Theatre Inconnu presents a piercingly insightful play about the drama of an ever-shrinking cultural landscape with The Golden Dragon by Roland Schimmelpfennig (translated by David Tushingham).
The cast includes Mily Mumford, Catriona Black, Michael Romano, Blair P. Moro and Bindon Kinghorn.
The Golden Dragon previews Thurs., May 2 at 8pm, and opens Fri., May 3 at 8pm. It runs until May 18 at 1923 Fernwood. Tickets at ticketrocket.org or 250-590-6291. M
Cycle de Mayo
A spring celebration of motorcycle culture gets underway Friday, with Cycle de Mayo.
Expect to see bikes take over Yates Street in front of Lucky Bar as motorcycle enthusiasts congregate for a musical fiesta (free motorcycle parking), with musical performances by Vancouver’s La Chinga, Victoria’s own M Award nominated greasers The Stockers, Seattle’s Communist Eyes and the debut of Black Jaw (featuring members of a wide variety of Victoria bands like Class of 1984, Self Inflicted, Tim, Left Pocket Dead, the Hoosegow, L.i.D and many many others).
Doors are at 9pm and it’s only $12. M
Miss Saigon
The Victoria Operatic Society presents the Vancouver Island premiere of a new production of Miss Saigon, directed by Roger Carr, with music direction by Hilary Coupland and choreography by Heidi Fox Lange.
Miss Saigon runs May 3,4, 9, 10 and 11 at 8pm and May 5 and 12 at 2pm at the McPherson Playhouse. Tickets start at $21 at rmts.bc.ca or 250-386-6121. M
David Blackwood
Winchester Galleries is featuring recent etchings, watercolours and sketches by Master Canadian printmaker David Blackwood, in Works on Paper — Etchings, Mixed Media & Watercolours, opening Fri., May 3 (at 2260 Oak Bay). There will be an opening reception with Blackwood in attendance Sun., May 5, 1-5pm.
This exhibition coincides with the public exhibition, Black Ice: Prints from Newfoundland at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, opening the same day, with a public reception beginning at 8pm.
Blackwood will be giving an artist’s talk, Sat., May 4 at 2pm at the Truth Centre (1201 Fort). M
