Get on the bus, see the barns

by Linda Moore

Other Columns Autotalk by Jeremy Cato and Rob MacGregor Good Living In the Garden by Barry Peters New on the Net by Richmond Public Library Staff

Commuters may not believe it but the best way to see one view of Richmond is by bus.
That's why on Oct. 4, from 1-4 p.m., the Richmond Museum is presenting a guided bus tour of some of Richmond's finest heritage barns. Hugh McNair, a retired dairy farmer and a member of one of Richmond's founding agricultural families will provide the commentary.
With our rapidly vanishing agricultural landscape, this could be a welcome opportunity to see the oldest barn, market garden barns and the rare Ewen 12-sided barn. These buildings were used to store grain and accommodate farm animals, but they also functioned as community centres, supporting community gatherings and - what else - barn dances.
Those who want a spot on the tour bus are invited to pre-register at 231-6457.

The next day, Oct. 5, from 1-5 p.m., the Richmond Museum and Art Gallery present Futuristic Fashions, a family fun day program that is just that: a chance for the entire family to create a futuristic Halloween costume from their colorful high-tech materials.
On the second half of this program, on Oct. 19 (also a Sunday), participants have the chance to model their creations at the museum and art gallery's first-ever fashion show complete with prizes. Pre-registration and more information is available by calling 231-6457.

Local resident Nathan S. Garfinkel, has just had his film "This Way Up" screened on PBS. Last Saturday night, his humorous 15-minute piece starring Theatresports' Gary Jones, aired on Public Television's Midnight Theatre showcase.
The young director won Best Dramatic Short at the New Haven Film Fest in 1997, received critical acclaim at the 1997 Toronto Worldwide Short Film Festival, and has had this film screened at more than 15 film festivals throughout the world.
Watch for This Way Up on Midnight Theatre's re-run schedule or upcoming film festivals.

And on the topic of filmmakers, Gavin Wilding, whose feature film "Stag" premiered on HBO recently, has been invited to the Athens Film Festival, where there has been a huge interest in having the movie featured in the line-up. This is quite an accolade for the young wonder kid, whose third feature film is an engrossing account of a stag party that spirals into disaster.
Check the television schedule for the next screening, but remember, this is not a movie for the younger members of the family.

Steveston grad Leanne Bruce is happy to report that her "Songs of Life", an original B.C. production based on the life and music of Neil Diamond, is doing so well at the Langley Playhouse that it's being held over to Oct. 4. Husband Bobby Bruce plays the legendary singer/songwriter. Showtime is 8 p.m. and tickets are available at 534-7469, but she tells me shows are selling out.

Richmond is a haven for musical talents, (witness Gateway Theatre's annual piano competition that had Julian Fong emerge as this year's winner) so any young pianists, their parents, music teachers, and anyone else who's enjoyed music will love Playhouse Theatre's season-opener "2 Pianos, 4 Hands."
Quite possibly the best Canadian Play ever written by the performers themselves, this is a tour de force production by two exceptional artists, Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt, that will resonate long after the evening has ended.
It centres on a couple of youngsters and their early struggles with piano lessons, but expands to embrace an outlook on life that is a joyous celebration and a totally exhilarating evening. Fine-tuning prior to its New York opening, "2 Pianos, 4 Hands" is at the Vancouver Playhouse to Oct. 11.