BC Business
Bruce Springsteen | BCBusinessWith no sign of slowing down, Bruce Springsteen is 63 years young.
This month find cool art, rule America and meet the new Boss – same as the old Boss. Music // Bruce Springsteen
He represents Americana at its finest, but even Canadians can appreciate what this New Jersey legend has to offer. The Boss’s most famous track, the unapologetically political “Born in the U.S.A.,” gave voice to a generation by highlighting the poor treatment of America’s Vietnam War veterans. Later, in an unexpected twist, the tune was briefly used as a campaign song for presidential candidate Ronald Reagan (a clear misunderstanding of the song’s anti-war rhetoric). Springsteen’s shows are known to run up to an astonishing 250 uninterrupted minutes in length; rock ’n’ rolling with the 63-year-old performer will undoubtedly leave even the most active concertgoers parched. For authenticity’s sake, grab a Budweiser so you can keep on dancing in the dark. (Rogers Arena, November 26. ticketmaster.ca)
Just when you thought east Vancouver couldn’t get more hip, along comes the annual Eastside Culture Crawl. A three-day festival that takes place between Main Street and Victoria Drive and attracts upwards of 15,000 people, the Crawl includes more than 300 artists, jewellers, furniture-makers, writers, photographers and glassblowers. Visitors with creative leanings may be drawn to the festival’s utilitarian workshops such as “Social Media for Artists,” while the artistically challenged will enjoy perusing the galleries and stalls for something to take home. And just as any gathering for starving artists or art lovers should be, the entire event is free to attend. (East Vancouver, November 16-18. eastsideculturecrawl.com)
Fear not America; your neighbour to the north is here to help! At least, that’s the sentiment behind this comedic take on this month’s U.S. presidential election: why vote Republican or Democrat when you could vote Canadian? Two Vancouverites (one a political writer, the other a comedian) have joined forces in this humorous breakdown of what would happen if we stepped into power south of the border. Offering readers a questionable political timeline and tips for solving America’s problems (such as the promise that, if elected, Canada will ensure that all oil pipelines carry maple syrup), America, But Better is an over-arching antidote for a most cynical election, even after the ballots are counted. (Chris Cannon and Brian Calvert. Douglas & McIntyre, 2012, $16.95. dmpibooks.com)