1. One of our favourite annual events in the city, the Victory Square Block Party returns to its grassy knoll at Cambie and Hastings to bid summer adieu and kick out the jams Sept. 4, 2 to 9 p.m. Mourning Coup, Milk, Jody Glenham, So Loki, Swim Team, SBDC, Pale Red and Tough Customer perform at the free, all ages, outdoor gathering. Details at victorysquareblockparty.com.
2. After a summer-long hiatus, Paul Anthony’s Talent Time is back in action for its ninth season of bringing Vancouver audiences what they crave: in this case, a live, back-to-school-themed variety show with a kids fashion show, Elvis tribute artist Aaron Wong, 15-year-old yo-yo champion Harrison Lee, teen pop singer I, Kandee, comedian Sean Devlin, cohost Ryan Beil and an opening dance number. It all goes down Sept. 1, 8 p.m. at the Rio Theatre. For details, go to riotheatre.ca.
3. Before there was Ishtar, before there was Gigli, before there was Waterworld, there was Heaven’s Gate, which has become the benchmark for box office bombs when it landed with a thud in 1980. However, there are those who will argue that the sweeping western starring Kris Kristofferson, Jeff Bridges, Christopher Walken, Isabelle Huppert and John Hurt is pretty darn good and deserves to be seen on the big screen. Judge for yourself when it screens at Vancity, Sept. 4, 3 p.m. Details at viff.org.
4. Comedian and one of the stars of HBO’s Silicon Valley, T.J. Miller brings his standup act to the Vogue Theatre as part of his Meticulously Ridiculous Tour, Sept. 7, 7 p.m. Kate Miller and Nick Vatterott also share the stage. Tickets at the Vogue box office or ticketfly.com.
