Daily Bulletin

Wine, writers, and song on tap tonight

The New Quarterly, an offshoot of the writer-in-residence program at the university in the early 80s, serves UW and the surrounding community in a variety of ways: its editors do guest spots in both literature and creative writing courses, conduct writing workshops, judge a variety of literary competitions, organize readings and conferences. And they increasingly bring celebrity to the community they serve. New Quarterly stories have won the gold medal for fiction at the National Magazine Awards for the past two years -- in competition with big budget magazines -- with silver medals earlier in both fiction and poetry.

The Wine, Writers, & Song event is intended to attract new subscribers and to reward long-term supporters with a great night out. Each ticket comes with the option to subscribe at a discount, which then entitles the ticket holder to take part in a draw for door prizes, including literary memorabilia from each of the invited guests.

Performing this year is a trio of talented writers, all of whom have a connection with the magazine. Stephanie Bolster, Ottawa, won this year's Governor General's Award for Poetry for her first collection, White Stone: the Alice Poems. Bolster will be reading from a series of new poems about love of family and leaving home for love.

The second reader, Russell Smith, is a Toronto novelist and freelance journalist. His first book, How Insensitive, was nominated for Governor General's and Trillium awards. In 1998, he won the gold medal for fiction at The National Magazine Awards for a story which appeared in The New Quarterly.

The third reader, Stan Dragland, is a man-of-all-genres. He has written fiction (Peckertracks), semi-fiction (Journeys Through Bookland and Other Passages), non-fiction (The Bees of the Invisible) -- even a children's book. Dragland's work will be featured in an upcoming issue of the magazine.

The evening's program will finish with love songs and other vocal play by Anne-Marie Donovan, artistic director of Waterloo's NUMUS Concerts and a nationally known recitalist, chamber musician, and interpreter of twentieth century music and music theatre.

Tickets ($30 for the evening plus a subscription, $20 for the evening alone with a $5 discount for students) are available through The New Quarterly at 885-1211, ext. 2329 or at the door.

During the winter hiatus

During the winter study period, UW food services will scale back operations, closing eateries in Ron Eydt Village, the Festival Room, Tim Horton's in Optometry, and the coffee shop in Burt Matthews Hall. Food will continue to be served on the weekend and through the week in Village One, and Monday through Friday in other campus outlets.

Into the Valentine's weekend

"Anthropological Perspectives on Tourism and Tourism Research" will be offered today by Michael Hitchcock, of the University of North London, UK, as part of the Contemporary Perspectives on Tourism lecture series. The talk will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Mutual Auditorium, Burt Matthews Hall.

In co-op and career services today, a resume writing workshop is scheduled for 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Needles Hall room 1020.

Theatre goers can still catch Fool for Love, the UW drama department's take on the Sam Shepard play, and an antidote for Valentine's Day. Reservations for the performance tonight and tomorrow night at 8 p.m. in Hagey Hall Studio 180 can be made by phoning the box office at ext. 4908.

Also tonight, for armchair travelers or those planning a getaway, a Kiwanis travelogue explores Cuba at 8 p.m. in the Hagey Hall Humanities Theatre.

I Love Art is the theme of a Saturday evening bash at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery. Billed as "an arousing alternative" the event offers guests a chance to "join artists as they explore the form of a live model, just watch the artists making their art" or enjoy a floor show. Among participants are celebrity impersonators, a "philosopher and master balloon artist", a practitioner of animal medicine through Tarot, as well as more traditional artists and performers. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at the gallery (746-1882) or at the Harbinger Gallery in Waterloo.

Birthday greetings to Larry Lamb in environmental studies, who will be moving into a new decade on Saturday.

The Volunteer Action Centre is looking for help for a number of non-profit agencies in the community. Volunteers are needed to help plan, promote and run a fund-raising event for research into inflammatory bowel disease; to deliver "an educational diversion program" for the Elizabeth Fry Society; and to work as a dispatcher/convenor for the patient transportation program run by the Canadian Cancer Society. To learn more, phone the VAC at 742-8610.

And though winter is still nipping at our heels, spring is in the air as Valentine's Day approaches -- or so say a pair of cardinals in my neighborhood. So whether you're smitten, solo, or even in the dog house, celebrate the season.

Barbara Elve
bmelve@uwaterloo.ca

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credmond@uwaterloo.ca | (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
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Copyright © 1999 University of Waterloo