VALENTINE’S EVENTS
Thursday, Feb. 14
Fugitive Pieces (at Cinecenta)
Since this movie is a love story, it might be the perfect Valentine’s date movie — as long as both of you are serious film buffs. A big part of the movie is the lead character’s memories of the Second World War, which means some serious drama, because the main thing about the Second World War is that it sucked. So that could put a damper on the Valentine’s Day mood, but if you’re both into heavy drama (or if you’re single and are into heavy drama), Fugitive Pieces ought to make for an enjoyable cinematic outing.
For more info, visit cinecenta.com.
Cinecenta (UVic Student Union Building), 7 p.m. & 9:10 p.m. $5.75 students ($3.75 for 9 p.m. shows or later).
Thursday, Feb. 14
Naughty & Nice: Island Illustrators Society Valentine’s Art Exhibition – Valentine’s Day Fun Night
Feeling particularly saucy on Valentine’s Day evening? Why not go downtown with your significant other and take a gander at some naughty illustrations by a number of local artists? Nothing is left to the imagination here, folks; we’re talking naked elbows, knees and foot arches, and if that’s not enough for you, other naked body parts as well! But there’s more going on this evening than art; you can enjoy some live music and body painting as well as a sexy photo booth. I could close this listing by saying some weird, cheesy line that Austin Powers might say, but I won’t.
For more info, visit islandillustrators.org.
Martin Batchelor Gallery (712 Cormorant St.), 7–9 p.m. Free.
Thursday, Feb. 14 – Saturday, Feb. 23
Reasons To Be Pretty
This Tony Award-nominated play is all about our culture’s emphasis on physical appearance. Now there’s a theme that will no doubt strike a chord with a lot of people. I haven’t seen this play, so I don’t know how uplifting it is by the end, but I have to say, to those who are concerned about stuff like physical appearance — don’t sweat it. There are people who will be into you no matter what you look like; browsing through various subreddits will confirm this.
For more info, visit finearts.uvic.ca/theatre/phoenix.
UVic Phoenix Theatre, 8 p.m. $13 students/$22 adults/$18 seniors. $7 tickets for students for preview shows (Feb. 12 and 13).
Saturday, Feb. 16
The Fifty Fifty Valentine’s Party featuring The Himalayan Bear, Goose Lake and Le Rat
When I first saw local band The Himalayan Bear play a few years ago, I was surprised that singer/guitarist Ryan Beattie was playing alone with a drummer and no bass player. Yet, the band’s sound was full and heavy. I wasn’t sure how he was able to accomplish this, but later a fellow guitar geek told me Beattie gets this sound by using a baritone guitar (a guitar that has a pitch range in between a regular guitar and a bass guitar). Mystery solved! “But his guitar only has a bolt-on neck,” complained the other guitar geek (a feature often found on cheaper, mass-produced guitars). “Well, so what?” I thought to myself. That bolt-on neck guitar sounded pretty damn awesome to me! And I’m sure you will agree as the baritone guitar of The Himalayan Bear and the sound of bands Goose Lake and Le Rat shake the walls of Logan’s.
For more info, visit loganspub.com.
Logan’s Pub (1821 Cook St.), doors at 9 p.m. $10.
EDUCATIONAL EVENTS
Tuesday, Feb. 19
Café Scientifique – “From fat to sweet and back again — a scientist’s journey into hormones, sugar, and the choices we make” (with Dianne Lattemann)
What could be more fun than hanging out in bars and talking about science? Not a whole lot, in my opinion. That’s exactly what the popular Café Scientifique, hosted by UVic’s Centre for Biomedical Research, is all about, and this upcoming lecture sounds like a doozy. Based on its title, I imagine if I were to go to this lecture, I would think to myself as I left, “Oh, crap. I really shouldn’t be eating all that processed food.” It’s one more of those shocking, game-changing things you learn in life. It’s like when you’re a small child and you think a certain popular, kid-oriented fast-food restaurant is totally awesome, but then later you discover how absolutely non-awesome it actually is.
Be sure to RSVP for this event by emailing cfbr@uvic.ca.
For more info, visit cbr.uvic.ca/outreach/cafe-scientifique or call (250) 472-4067.
Hermann’s Jazz Club (753 View St.), 6:30 p.m. Free.
Wednesday, Feb. 20
Gluten-Free Living
So what exactly is gluten, besides sounding like one of the things the cloaked man says at the beginning of Def Leppard’s “Rock of Ages” music video? Well, gluten consists of proteins found in foods made from wheat, barley or other grains. It helps bread to rise and gives it texture. And it’s possible that you might have a gluten intolerance and really shouldn’t even be eating it. So how do you find out you are intolerant to the stuff and then adjust to that? Just attend this workshop by husband-and-wife doctor team Jeffrey and Jennifer Gratton, who will give you straight talk on all things gluten.
For more info and to register, visit gvpl.ca.
Greater Victoria Public Library: Bruce Hutchison Branch, Arbutus Room (4636 Elk Lake Dr.), 7–8 p.m. Free.
Thursday, Feb. 21
Garry Oak-Associated Wetlands (lecture with James Miskelly)
Some folks (like cartoon bears) can’t get enough of that Golden Crisp. Other folks (like Kool and the Gang) can’t get enough of that funky stuff. But other folks can’t get enough of that studying of rare ecosystems. Naturalist James Miskelly is one of these folks, and he’ll be delivering a lecture about Garry oak-associated wetlands, which are rare ecosystems indeed. This sounds like important information for biologists, and is likely to be far more satisfying than a bowl of Golden Crisp, which turns into flavourless puffed wheat when it gets soggy. The talk is hosted by the Native Plant Study Group.
For more info, visit npsg.ca.
UVic MacLaurin Building, Room D116, 7 p.m. $3 non-members.
