A Sweet Month in Perth - theHumm April 2015

By John Pigeau

So you’re jazzed that spring is here, but the yard is still a bit mushy and there’s too much rain and the street cleaner just seems to be making a whole big other mess and more sunshine would be nice.

Okay, time out. Time out for some happy. Are you sitting down? Good. Because April in Perth promises to be one of the most splendid, awe-inspiring, entertaining, delightful, groovy, sweet-toothed, and magnificent months of all time.

First, on April 1, prank your friends. Prank your boss. Prank your folks and your mail carrier. Heck, prank your dog.

Second, on April 4, bring your kids on down to Stewart Park for the 4th annual Easter Egg Hunt. They need to be eight years old or younger, accompanied by an adult, and they should bring a basket with them so they’ll have a place to put all the coloured eggs they find hidden away in secret spots all over the park. The hunt begins at 11am sharp (a starting horn will sound), and rain or shine, there will also be children’s music, special balloon creations, the Perth Fire Truck, Sparky the Fire Dog, and of course, the Easter Bunny.

Need your musical mind blown? Not a problem. The Perth Performing Arts Committee is bringing to town a truly one-of-kind, world-class, supremely talented musical act: Yiannis Kapoulas. Kapoulas, who plays an impressive array of exotic stringed instruments with precision, passion, agility and speed, is known for his “ethno-fusion world instrumentals.” In his unique sound, you can hear a lot of influences — everything from Latin, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, jazz, classical and funk. Kapoulas tours extensively with a stellar ensemble of top musicians from Montreal and Toronto, and they’ve awed music fans at numerous festivals throughout Canada.

This PPAC show takes place on Friday, April 17, at 7:30pm in the Mason Theatre (at Perth & District Collegiate Institute, 13 Victoria Street). Tickets are available from Tickets Please. You can get yours by visiting their website ticketsplease.ca , calling 485–6434, or dropping in at Jo’s Clothes, 39 Foster Street in Perth.

The same night, not too far away at the Full Circle Theatre, BarnDoor Productions will be celebrating their 20th anniversary season with their 100th production — on this special night, Death of a Salesman. I like the way the folks at BDP think. Here’s a charming guarantee about this show culled from their website: “We’ve been here twenty years, for heaven’s sake. Trust us for once — Death of a Salesman will be one of our best.”

I trust them.

If you do too, you should get your tickets early. For a BarnDoor show it’s cash only, which is actually convenient and saves everybody a bit of money. Just give them a call, place your ticket order, and pay them when you get there. Your tickets are guaranteed. Their number is 267–1884, and the show runs on April 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25 at 8pm, and on April 19 and 26 at 2pm. Tickets are $20 in advance, $22 at the door, and students are $10.

Festival of the Maples, Empty Bowls

April is arguably the sweetest month of the year to live in Perth. It has been for 39 years. At least we’ve officially celebrated it for that many years, or will have as of April 25, when the whole darn town — and people from all around — will get together to rejoice all things maple syrup at Perth’s beloved Festival of the Maples.

If you’ve been, you know this is truly a grand, fun, and tasty celebration. Townsfolk and people from all around emerge from hibernation with smiles on their faces and sweets on their minds, and Gore Street comes alive and turns into a giant street party, with over 160 vendors (most of them selling award-winning maple products), live music, a slew of activities for children, and interesting displays. The merriment is infectious. Even dentists enjoy themselves.

Empty Bowls will be at the 39th Festival of the Maples too. They’ll be set up out front of Riverguild. Make a $20 donation for a locally hand-crafted stoneware bowl filled with gourmet soup by local chefs and — this is the second best part — eat the soup and keep the bowl!

The best thing is that all donated money goes to local food programs. (For more information, please visit emptybowls.ca.)

The Festival runs from 9am to 4pm. Don’t forget to visit the Fudge Hut. And maybe you can browse some of the wonderful local stores throughout the day, too — there are so many charming shops in downtown Perth, it’s genuinely difficult not to.

Also, I’ve heard that congratulations are in order to all of you reading this: you have officially survived the coldest Canadian winter on record in 115 years. That’s quite something.

Happy Spring, everyone!

Sally Hansen:April Fool! - theHumm April 2015

By Sally Hansen

Art… and Soul

My mother claimed credit for delivering me five weeks early to be an April Fool, but I’m convinced it was my destiny. It’s a great birthday. People remember it. It forces you t......

A Sweet Month in Perth - theHumm April 2015