Comedy:

I’m Rick James, bitch! Famous for his days on the Chappelle’s Show retelling celebrity encounters in the eighties, Charlie Murphy quickly became a cult favourite. You won’t want to miss his bold style, and maybe he’ll even tell you the Prince story if you ask nicely. September 18th at the Vogue theatre, tickets from Ticketmaster. http://www.comedyfest.com/show/charlie-murphy

Arts:

Feeling left out of the Toronto’s film festival madness? Swing by the Vancouver Singaporean Film Festival, featuring Cowboys in Paradise, a contentious documentary on beach boys in Bali. Added bonus: the director has flown in from Singapore to answer questions at the Opening Gala. http://www.vsff.org

Got a shoe fetish? Check out Fox, Fluevog and Friends at the MOV and drool over 150 of their best shoes, ranging from 1968-2000. The exhibit delves into John Fluevog, Peter Fox, and Ken Rice’s Gastown roots to show how they made it on the international stage. The exhibit runs until September 26th. http://www.museumofvancouver.ca/exhibition.php?id=17

If you need a sweet fix this weekend, head over to Havana Restaurant on Commercial Drive. One dollar from every dessert purchased will be donated to the Vancouver Fringe Festival to help battle the effects of the arts cuts. Finally, an indulgence you can feel truly good about! http://www.havanarestaurant.ca/Showcase/Announcements/tabid/2766/vid/a75fb18c-9f70-44ed-a06c-b5c5b6595ca3/Default.aspx

Music:

Who would believe that Glory Days, now a Vancouver hipster institution, is only three years old? Anything that keeps that group’s attention for three years is surely worth a visit. Celebrate this Saturday with resident DJs my!gay!husband!, Sincerely Hana, and Genie, and photos by Lindsay’s Diet. Careful though, they don’t call the Biltmore the Hall of Mistakes for nothing. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=754475001#!/event.php?eid=149956168371671

For a cultural experience, check out Culture Club at Fortune Sound Club this Friday. Held in the Livestock Room, a mere RSVP on facebook will get your guestlist plus one. http://fortunesoundclub.blogspot.com/2010/03/april-calendar.html

Can’t wait for October 31st to roll around? Head to the third annual Tim Burton Theme Ball this Saturday and party it up like you’re on hallucinogenics. Tickets are a steal at $12, but your creepy costume might run you a bit more. http://www.wantickets.com/EventDetail.aspx?e_id=128737

Celebrate Abbotsford indie artists with the winniecooper.net djs this Friday at No More Strangers. Hosted at the Cobalt, this is sure to be a night of cheap drinks and sweet bands. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=115337778521810

Other:

Stop by Granville this Saturday at 1:30pm to witness Oxfam’s Flash Mob to End Poverty. Saturday is the One Day of United Global Action in a weekend of events to end poverty, and the organizers want to make noise to get their point across. Grab a noisemaker and go join the crowd. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=754475001#!/event.php?eid=139990496025191

Learn about Vancouver’s sorted history in the Sins of the City walking tour, put on by the Vancouver Police Museum. A guide will take you through the seediest areas of the city, and regale you with stories of sex, opium, and gambling. The tour is closing up shop on October 2nd, so be sure to book your spot before then. http://www.vancouverpolicemuseum.ca/SinsoftheCity.htm