SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31 (AND FOLLOWING WEDNESDAYS)
ASTRONOMY OPEN HOUSE
Sponsored by UVic’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, this open house is a chance to really take a look at what’s out there in our solar system. I went to one of these open houses years ago — for the first time in my life, I got to see Saturn and Jupiter in their full glory, through a big telescope. I tell you, that makes astronomy a lot more interesting than looking at a bunch of little dots in the sky. Maybe one of these open houses will make you want to fork out for a big telescope yourself. So what do you say? Don’t let those poor telescope-makers lose their jobs! For more info, call 250-721-7700 or email physgen@uvic.ca. UVic Wright Centre. Fifth floor. 8–10 p.m. Free.
RECREATION
SATURDAY, NOV. 3
FABULOUS FUNGI
I remember going on a biology class field trip in high school. I was walking with this girl in my class who could identify every tree and plant she encountered. “She’s awesome,” I thought to myself. “All I know about is Star Wars, guitars and video games, and that information is actually pretty useless.” So take this chance to be awesome: go and learn all about local fungi with CRD Regional Parks’ guest naturalist Kem Luther. Be a fun guy; learn about fungi. (I had to put that bad pun in here somehow). Pre-registration is required, so call 250-478-3344 to see if there’s still space. Francis/King Regional Park (in Saanich). 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. $7 plus HST.
SUNDAY, NOV. 4
TREE APPRECIATION DAY
At UPLANDS PARK
Do you ever find that, at the end of the day, you’re feeling drained and you’ve got a bit of eye strain? Well, maybe it’s because you’ve spent way too much time in front of a computer screen. I realized that myself the other day. I was all like, “Jeez, I feel so buggy,” and then I was all like, “Well, of course you do, you’ve been looking at your computer all day!” I’m not trying to be preachy here. We have to use our computers quite a bit. It just makes you realize you really have to balance things out. So what’s the solution? Go plant a tree! The Friends of Uplands Park are hosting Tree Appreciation Day where you get to plant Garry oak trees, among other native plants, at the Uplands Park entrance, as well as go on a nature walk. Don’t forget to bring some gloves and a shovel! For more info, visit recreation.oakbaybc.org/event-calendar/. Uplands Park entrance on Beach Drive. 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Free.
ARTS/CULTURE
MONDAY, NOV. 5 (AND FOLLOWING MONDAYS UNTIL NOV. 26)
VFF AT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY
The Victoria Film Festival is laying the groundwork for next year’s event by screening new short film submissions every Monday until Nov. 26. In addition to seeing all these great examples of independent cinema, you will get to vote on your favourites. Hey, I just thought of an independent short film drinking game: take a shot every time a short indie film ends with “Fin.”
For more info, email ccavanagh@gvpl.ca. Greater Victoria Public Library (735 Broughton St.). 12 p.m. Free.
MUSIC
THURSDAY, NOV. 1
AIDAN KNIGHT (with Andy Shauf)
There are two things you should know about singer/songwriter Aidan Knight: he’s not a Jedi Knight (so don’t expect any lightsaber action onstage, but if that is part of his show, please let me know), and according to one of his promotional pictures, he has a tendency to collapse into a big bowl of Cheerios. If I were to collapse due to depression or fatigue, it wouldn’t be into a bowl of cereal. Cereal has always been, and always will be, too exciting (and tasty!) for me to ever collapse into a bowl of it. So let’s hope the Force is with Aidan Knight during his show, and no bowls of cereal get ruined. Tickets available at Lyle’s Place, Ditch Records and ticketweb.ca. For more info, visit atomiqueproductions.com. Alix Goolden Hall (907 Pandora St.). Doors at 7:30 p.m. $18 advance.
MONDAY, NOV. 5 (AND EVERY MONDAY)
STEVE BARRIE’S SENSATIONAL OPEN MIC
Hey, you! Yeah, I’m talking to you. You’re a musician, or at least someone with a musical inclination. You’re also in university, and now is the time to grow, explore, learn and push yourself. Or maybe you’re not in university . . . but there’s no time like the present to grow, explore, learn and push yourself. Well, what better way to push yourself than to perform music in front of an audience? It’s scary — whoa, let me tell you. But you’ll get used to it. Having a beer or two before going onstage also helps. But you have to get the drinking part just right — enough to relax, but not so much that you can’t properly finger a G chord anymore (never mind a G7#9b5!). Just don’t get too worked up about it; you’re here to have fun. It’s rock and roll, man. Go have a blast at one of Victoria’s best open mic nights, hosted by Steve Barrie. For more info, visit loganspub.com. Logan’s Pub (1821 Cook St.). Doors at 9 p.m. Free.
