Hopkins Happenings - April 2009

Hey everyone -

It's April! Man, 2009 is just flying past. I've got another busy month, including:

• Salon de la Conversation - Re-Launch!
• Honesty
• Shhhh!
• ALS Fundraising - 2009
  

Salon de la Conversation - Re-Launch!

Every Monday night, 8:00 pm
Kensington Pub
207 10A St NW

Waaaaay back in May 2005, a bunch of us French Immersion veterans got together and said, "Mon français n'est pas aussi good que it used to be." We decided to get together, every Monday night, for drinks and friendly French-language conversation!

For a couple of years, the Kensington Pub was a hotspot for French conversation and our language skills increased exponentially. Over the past several months, malheureusement, Le Salon has gradually faded away. It's time to bring it back!

Si vous parlez français (even if you only speak a little bit!), venez nous rejoindre au Kensington Pub chaque lundi soir! Beer, French conversation and good company: a formula for a fabulous Monday night!

Honesty

April 16-25
Thursday to Saturday @ 8:00 pm
EPCOR CENTRE's Motel
225 8th Ave SE (2nd Floor, across from the Big Secret Theatre)

Tickets $12 at the door, call 403.294.7459 to reserve
www.downstage.ca

The final show in the 2008-09 Motel Series promises to be a gem - it's a new comedy by Calgary playwright extraordinaire, Neil Fleming, author of John Doe/Jack Rabbit, Security and Gnomes!

In the year 2367, lying is impossible. Humans use their brains to full capacity and communicate telepathically. But at the Ministry of Obsolete Technologies, two officers discover a forbidden secret: a pill that can mask brainwaves. Celebrate Canada's 500th birthday with a taboo tale of seduction, deception and chocolate addiction in a play that creates the world of the future, using wit as its weapon of choice. Starring Col Cseke, Aaron Edelstein, Nicola Elson and Jessica Nottell.

Shhhh!

April 28-May 2 @ 8:00 pm
Lantern Community Church
1401 10 Ave SE

$15 at the door, call 403.698.3088 to reserve
www.swallowabicycle.com

You've probably heard me rambling about "Swallow-a-Bicycle", that little theatre company that keeps me insanely busy. Now's your chance to meet the creative team!

Swallow-a-Bicycle consists of myself, Léda Davies and Charles Netto. For this performance, we challenged ourselves to each create a stand-alone half-hour performance using the theme Shhhh! as our starting point. The resulting pieces include a seductive femme fatale, thoughts from the monster under the bed, and an eccentric historian with a story to tell.

As the show develops, we'll post more details on our website (and blog!). In the meantime, you can book your tickets online to see original work on the cutting edge of Calgary's creation scene! (Or whatever.)


ALS Fundraising - 2009

Mark Hopkins' Fundraising Site

My great-uncle, Fred, died of ALS in the 1970s. My uncle, Bob, died of ALS in 2001. My father, Doug, was diagnosed with ALS in July 2006 and passed away on June 3, 2007. I have an approximately 50% chance of someday being diagnosed with the disease.

Every year, I participate in Betty's Run for ALS, a fundraiser for the ALS Society of Alberta, an organisation that helped my family through my father's illness and that supports ALS research. This year, the run takes place on June 14, and I will once again run 5 miles in an effort to raise money toward care, research and an eventual cure.

Last year, my fundraising campaign raised over $12,000. I'm hoping to exceed that amount this year, and your support would be greatly appreciated! Donations are accepted by credit card through the website (click "Donate Now!" at the top of the page), or you can donate by cash or cheque by contacting me at 403.710.0093 or mark.c.hopkins@gmail.com. Donations for $20 or more will be issued a charitable tax receipt.

And, yes, I will be throwing another epic birthday party / fundraiser! You can expect more bands, more bodypainting, more prizes, and more general awesomeness. Markapalooza 2 will be on June 6 - save the date, and watch for more details soon!

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Amidst all this insanity, I'll be attending a slew of other events, like Taking Flight, Re:Verb, The Calgary Underground Film Festival and The Collection, just to name a few. Hope to see you there!

And, of course, the 'We Should Know Each Other' parties are still going strong. If you'd like to meet a bunch of interesting folks on a Sunday night, drop me a line for more details!

Thanks for bearing with my extended ramblings; that's it until May! Have a great month.