A little something for Canadian hip hop fans. This is a giveaway. Just another reason you gotta keep checking BR for hot stuff like freebies, reportage, and good fun, among many others. But, if you like music (cuz I hear that some people just don't like music these days), I've got five tix for you if, and only if, you've got some easy answers. But first, to be fair, here's some background on Classified, a hip hop artist originally from Nova Scotia, keeping it real since the early 90s.

After a slew of recordings and production projects, 1997 saw Classified's first full CD release entitled "Information." Two years in the making, the album opened many doors for Classified and led to opening spots for noted American and Canadian musicians which include: 112, Saukrates, Maestro, Rascalz, Choclair and Swollen Members. The release of "Information" prompted Classified's first record release, "Touch of Class," which received so much critical praise that it was nominated for East's Coast's Urban Recording of the Year Music Award in 2000. That little blurb should do.

I've setup a snazzy Video for BR. If it all goes well and, most importantly, if you are excited about this trial pilot feature, we'll try to whip it up for ya on a regular basis. It's a video my peers and I have been working on (each doing our bit to help out, while I get to talk about it) that, well, you will surely feast your hyper eyes on. It's a celebration of Vancouver's hippest little neighborhood called Mt. Pleasant (among other snazzy hoods like on the Drive, among others). This is a celebration of the shoppes and 'hoods (one video at a time) that are keeping Mt. Pleasant hip, independent, and original. Think of this as a neighbourhood feature and store-feature in video format, much like our store profiles but, well, in high definition, so to speak.

Our first feature is on the 'Temple of the Modern Girl,' one of Mt. Pleasant's most lovely boutiques, located at 2695 Main St., 604 630-8656. For other details, do continue on. Below is the Video and some background on our lovely producers...

Join us for an Informal Showing & Social with Cathy Naden of Forced Entertainment.

I've stumbled upon a company called Forced Entertainment, as they're pushing the boundaries here in Vancouver. They're dubbed as the most experimental Theatre company in the UK. And you can be a part of it. Their associates at memelab imparted on me a snazzy little event. A social evening and informal screening of Forced Entertainment's ABLOODY MESS, alongside a chat/Q+A with Cathy Naden, who is in town facilitating a workshop from Nov 5-9 2007. The whole thing is put on by the PuSh International's Performing Arts Festival and Theatre Replacement but, guess what, it's secret. The location and other details I cannot disclose to you. You have to write to them, (politely) and maybe you'll be invited ;)

Central to Forced Entertainment's practice is the belief that work can begin from any number of sources, found or invented, but that work never starts out from a pre-determined theme or agenda. Another central tenet is that in a social setting as hyper as that of the (post)modern one, surely there are new ways of discussing and representing lived experience in the world. The company has a saying, "Let the material dictate what the show wants to be," echoing a kind-of-a McLuhanesque cum-Derridaean approach to performance. And it is in this spirit that the workshop will experiment, taking concrete ideas and exploring the sometimes false, sometimes unexpected, and sometimes very exciting directions that can (and often do) lead you in.

Cathy Naden is a founding member, performer, and deviser with Forced Entertainment. This five-day workshop will take a practical trip into some of the concerns and approaches that the company has pursued through its long history of work at the cutting edge of contemporary performance. Drawing on text, the possibilities of space and the creative limits of rules and game structures, the workshop will focus on three often inter-connected areas: (a) how to create frameworks for material, (b) what it means to be in front of an audience and (c) the relationship between process and product.

Suffice it to say, if you'd liked to get in on this shinanigan, please email the memelab and they'll just see about that: memelab@telus.net.

PICTURE CREDIT: Dan Cordle's photostream

For the past 5 years Sean Devlin has been busy in Vancouver as both a comedian & filmmaker. This September he performed at the prestigious Bumbershoot Arts Festival. His first feature film, 2004's "Zach & Avery" is screening at The Vancity Theatre on Saturday November 3rd @ 2pm. You really have to click on the video, before we go on.

I enjoyed my very own copy of this cd so much, we decided to give you an interview with this smashing young lat before the screening takes place. Before that, I have a one or two tiny remarks on this film. First off it's filmed entirely in Vancouver, in some very familiar East Vancouver settings that will arouse nostalgia. But, most of all, what was absolutely overwhelming in the film was the brilliant humor and wit among characters that seemed to know each other so well, the button-pushing could only exist this extreme in theatre. But enough about me, and my take on this film. I want us to have a chat with this guy, so here it is. My questions for Sean were pretty straight forward, and he was a delight to talk to.

> (1) So Sean, what is Zach and Avery all about?

I wrote the film during my first year living in Vancouver. I think it is inspired by personal relationships as well as the city itself. I could continue, but you really have to see it for yourself...

This is for those who are simply sick of costumes or the over the top dress-up Halloween. Here's a comprehensive list of alternatives. Cuz our readers are like that, and so are we. So, this is for all who refuse and want to be a little different. I know you've been inundated with party ideas. I also know I've contributed to this onslaught of schedules, places-to-be, costumes, and concepts. So, to pose an exception to all this "showing off." here's a list of things you can simply check out, sit down to, and watch. Why dress up, you ask. Exactly, why! Just sit back, like the good and well-behaved Vancouverite that you are:

Fri Oct 26 - Top Drawers, Empire Alley, Jennifer Dolls Rock 'n Roll Burlesque @ The Bourbon (50 West Cordova)`
http://www.myspace.com/thetopdrawers
http://www.myspace.com/empirealley
http://www.myspace.com/jenniferdolls

Fri Oct 26 - Cousin Harley, The Grange @ Railway Club(579 Dunsmuir)
http://www.myspace.com/cousinharley
http://www.myspace.com/thegrangeband

Fri Oct 26 - SpreadEagle, The Manvils, The Smears, Mongoose @ The Media Club (695 Cambie)
http://www.myspace.com/theeag
http://www.myspace.com/themanvils
http://www.myspace.com/thevancitysmears
http://www.myspace.com/mongooserocks

There's plenty of things happening this weekend. BR is taking it upon themselves to give you some of our favorite 'Pickins'. And this is only one of many blurbs you'll find here in the next few days, so get ready! Oct.27th, you are the cast and Yote is the set. I present a full movie-inspired-decor, not to mention the pretty grueling dressup, among some spectacular sounds -- cuz you wouldn't have it any other way. This is the Yote. The Yote you ask? The Wild Coyote becomes the set of Saw, and only those who succeed in Jigsaws' games will survive. But watch your step, Jigsaw could still be alive as he lies in a pool of blood on the bathroom floor.

If you're intrigued, we've got five free tickets to give away to this gig but, hmm, let's see, what should we ask you this time?