Grab the kids, a blanket and some popcorn and head to Burnaby's Civic Square this Thursday for a free movie in the park.
The screenings of family-friendly flicks will run rain or shine Thursdays until Aug. 30 at the Bob Prittie library grounds, at Kingsway and McKay.
The first film, on Aug. 16 at 8: 30 p.m., will be The Soul of Bread, in Mandarin with English subtitles.
This film follows a man who works in a failing bakery and falls in love with the owner's daughter.
It was selected as the closing film for the Your Kontinent Festival 2012 in Richmond. The Soul of Bread is rated PG.
The next movie, the animated Despicable Me, will be shown on Aug. 23 at 8: 30 p.m.
This film is about a criminal mastermind who plans to use a trio of orphaned girls as pawns for a grand scheme, but finds the girls have more of an influence on him than he'd expected.
This film is rated G. The final movie will be Bhoothnath, a Bollywood film about a friendship that develops between a boy and the ghost of the former owner of his house.
The film is rated PG and starts at 8 p.m. on Aug. 30.
For more information about the films, call coordinator Louise Rusch at 604-297-4834.
OPEN MIKE NIGHT
More into live music than outdoor movies?
Check out O'Reilly's Organic Coffee House, which holds open mike events every Thursday.
Whether you prefer to sit back and listen to some local musicians or take the stage yourself and play your favourite tunes, everyone is welcome.
The show starts at 7 p.m. with 15-minute slots for each performer.
The owner, Marlon O'Reilly, is also a musician, and often opens or closes an open mike night with his guitar.
The coffee house is at 7885 6th St. in Burnaby (at the corner of 10th Street and Sixth Avenue.)
Free parking is available in the underground parking lot off Sixth Street.
For more information, or to book a spot to perform, call 604-544-7750, or visit the Facebook page for the latest updates, www. facebook.com/oreillysor ganiccoffeehouse.
RECEPTION
The Deer Lake Art Gallery is holding an opening reception for a new exhibition later this month.
Local artist Mark Soparlo's acrylic paintings of the Burnaby landscape will be displayed in a show called Vantage Point: Seasons in Light, at the gallery from Aug. 25 until Sept. 16.
An opening reception on Saturday, Aug. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. will include a poetry reading by Soparlo's wife, Janice Soparlo, from a book the couple created together of his paintings and her poetry.
The gallery, at 6584 Deer Lake Ave. in Burnaby, is open Tuesday to Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, call 604-298-7322, or visit www.burnabyartscouncil. org and click on "Deer Lake Gallery."
Have an item for Lively City? Send it to reporter Marelle Reid at mreid@ burnabynow.com or mail it to 201A-3430 Brighton Ave., Burnaby, B.C. V5A 3H4.
For more entertainment and arts coverage, go to www.burnabynow.com.
