J litestytes Vintage train heads to North Pole A new show put on by the National Railroad Histori- cal Society of BC brings an old kid’s book to life By BRONWYN SCOTT ll aboard the North Pole Express! At: year for the very first time ids (and the young at heart) will have the opportunity to cherish the magical setting of Chris Van Allsburg’s Christmas story “Polar Express” on a rare vintage 1930s passenger carriage. If youre familiar with the story, it’s going to be like stepping into that scene in the book where the kids get on board and are gleefully entertained. But instead of hot chocolate, singing and dancing, show-goers will be awed with a performance by one of Vancou- ver’s most accomplished entertainers, magician Matthew Johnson. “It’s a really unique experience just walking on that vintage train car... [it’s] like going back in time,” said Johnson. Johnson hopes that “the kids ... feel a lot more Christmas-y by the time they get off [the train],” he said. “I’m excited to do it... it’s going to put me in the Christmas spirit, too.” The magic shows will take place right on the train, with each car seat- ing 60, but doesn’t leave the station. There will be just over 100 shows running throughout December, each one lasting half an hour, alternating in each of two passenger carriages. The vintage cars, supplied by the National Railway Historical Society of British Columbia, are two of less than fifty still around today, according to company president Rip Peterman, the event organizer, who came up with the idea out of the blue. “Tt just came to me, a light bulb went on,” he said, He thought, “I know just what would look good, this scene from Chris Van Allsberg’s book!” said Peterman. Since then the wheels have been in motion to make his vision a success. “My hope is that every kid walks off that train with the biggest smile on their face they’ve had in years,” he said. Tickets have been on sale for a month and are selling like hotcakes, according to Peterman. He expects that with this weekend’s Santa Claus Parade in downtown Van- couver sales will pick up drastically as the Christmas spirit sets in, and he warns there could be a “landslide sell- out.” Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased online at www.vancou- vernorthpoleexpress.com. The magic show is geared towards children, said Peterman, “but magic is magic,” and all are welcome. NRHS BC photo The North Pole Express is an ad- venture for kids and kids at heart. ee i t TIM MATHESON photo Vancouver Opera created its Get OUT program to coax young Vancouverites out to the opera by offering major discounts. Usual opera tickets can cost over $100, but for those under 35, tickets are a very reasonable $35 each. Cheap opera for young people Get OUT prgram offers Vancouverites under 35 deals on opera tix FUTURE shows PIRATES OF PENZANCE Dec. 1- Dec. 9 THE MAGIC FLUTE Mar. 9 - Mar. 17 TEA: A MIRROR OF SOUL May 4 - May 11 By SIMONE PFEIFFER ome very affordable tickets are still left for The Pirates of Penzance, Vancouver Opera's latest production, which opens Saturday Dec.1 and runs until Decem- ber 9. The company's GET 0.U.T. (Opera Under Thirty-five) program gives Van- couverites under 35 the chance to buy more affordable tickets, part of an ef- fort to get younger people out to the opera. The program started in 2009 for peo- ple under 30 and was extended this year to include those under 35. Doug Tuck, Director of Marketing at Vancouver Opera says people are real- ly excited about the program and that it's been extremely successful. “Anytime we offer tickets they all get used up; there's never an under 35 tick- et that doesn't get bought,” he said. For Pirates of Penzance, a comedy, Vancouver Opera doubled the number of under-35 tickets available and those seats are offered for all six of the performances. Opera is one of the more traditional art forms, but to get your tickets you need know your way around Facebook and Twitter: under-35 tickets are only announced on these social media chan- nels a couple weeks before opening night. That's where you'll find the promo code you need to book your discount tickets online (it's 3960 for Pirates). These tickets are highly sought-after and tend to sell out fast. “[Opera] incorporates all the per- forming arts on one stage; set and cos- tume design, singing, dance and chore- ography. It's totally relevant to any generation,” said Tuck. La Bohéme, one of the best-known operas, played at the VO last month. Younger audience members appreci- ated it because it “it has all the major themes: love, betrayal, jealousy,” he said. Zainab Alwarid, a 22-year old Arts/ Nursing student who attended a perfor- mance of La Bohéme agrees. “My eyes welled up with tears,” she said laughing. “When you find something you can connect with, you can relate it to some- thing in your own life.” She also has advice for younger peo- ple who've never been to the opera. “Don't be intimidated. And if you have some time, read up a bit on the op- era they're featuring.” Oh, and don't be late. Stay warm this winter by working out Keeping fit this winter break doesn’t have to be expensive thanks to stu- dent discounts and deals By RYAN BANAGAN way to stay fit over Christmas break, joining a local fitness centre is prob- ably not your best bet. Most gyms dismiss the idea of having a special membership for students who are home for the holidays, charging them the standard monthly fee instead. “Unfortunately we don’t have a special package for students who are I: you're a student looking for a cheap home for just a couple weeks,” said Kelly Walker, the Marketing and Communications Manager for Vancouver YMCA’s. “All we have is our lowered student- membership, which is $46.00 a month,” Walker said. Trevor Linden’s Club 16 Fitness also sticks to a regular monthly plan. However, Kendrick Diguangco, a fit- ness and nutrition representative for Trevor Linden’s Club 16 did stress there are other options available for students during their break. One option he discussed was the three-day trial pass that is available at Club 16. “The pass allows you to come in, check out the facility and use the equipment as much as you want for those three days. Think about it, you’re a college kid. Even a few days of getting a good hard workout in during your break is better than nothing,” Diguang- co said. Another point he mentioned was that there are other factors to staying fit than just going to the gym, such as nutrition. What you eat and how you eat is important too. “Instead of bringing cookies to Christmas dinner, why not bring brus- sel sprouts,” said Digaungco. “And instead of going back and get- ting seconds, why not wait two or three hours, and then go back and eat more. People don’t realize overeating is bad,” he added. LOCAL fitness centres LANGARA YMCA 282 W. 49 Avenue SUNSET COMMUNITY CENTRE 6810 Main St HILLCREST COMMUNITY CENTRE 4575 Clancy Loranger Way