Something old, something new

This week, something old, something new. Rising phoenixlike is Spartacus Books, lost last year to a fire but not forgotten. Mecca Normal's David Lester and Jean Smith bring words and music both to a Spartacus II benefit Saturday (April 2) at the Butchershop (195 East 26th Avenue), beginning at 8 p.m. Also scheduled are a launch for Allan Antliff's Only a Beginning (Arsenal Pulp Press, $29.95) and trenchant reminiscences by Bob Sarti and Alexander Daughtry. Make time especially to check out Lester's Gruesome Acts of Capitalism (Arbeiter Ring, $10.95). Borrowed and blue (with cold), meanwhile, is Ivan Coyote's Hand Made Tales, a Studio One event hosted by the CBC's Sheryl MacKay. Coyote, a Straight contributor, recounts the lives of her intrepid Yukon grandmothers, using video, stories, and live music by Veda Hille to flesh out maps of the land and her family. The free event, at 700 Hamilton Street this Friday (April 1), runs from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. First come, first served.