Looking for something exciting and a little different to do on a Friday night? Something that, say, combines culture, live performance and lots of pretty pretty people? If it’s the last Friday of the month, you’re in luck: You can head to FUSE.

If you don’t know FUSE, it’s the Vancouver Art Gallery’s (VAG) once-a-month party extravaganza, an adults-only, see-and-be-seen (and then see the art) event with big crowds, high-energy, and a nightclub vibe that make it one of the best places to do Friday night in the city.

FUSE combines art–VAG’s current exhibitions–with music, live performance, and, of course, cocktails. You don’t have to get dressed up for it, but a lot of people do, and I can’t think of another downtown hot-spot where the crowd can range in age from twenty-year-olds to sixty-plus with everyone feeling equally fabulous and right at home. (Seriously, is there another night spot like that, not counting jazz bars during the Jazz Fest? Tell me!)

I took friends to last night’s FUSE and we loved it. The performances included the Chor Leoni Men’s Choir and the new-school dance troupe the response.

Chor Leoni Men’s Choir at FUSE

the response at FUSE

Also on tap last night: “Period hair” courtesy of Gloss Hair Salon. I actually thought this might be a tie-in with the VAG’s Dutch Masters exhibit and was expecting 16th-century dos, but, alas, no. Instead, for a donation, you could get your hair retro-styled à la the 1960s, 70s, or 80s. This woman chose the 60s (and loved it):

You can’t bring drinks into the exhibition spaces, but no party is complete without libations, and FUSE is no exception. There are two choices for grabbing a cocktail: the swank Gallery Cafe–which has a gorgeous outdoor patio–or the slightly-hidden (turn right from the Hornby Street entrance) FUSE Lounge, which has the dark, DJ-dance ambience of a club’s back room.

FUSE Lounge

Want in on the action? The next FUSE is June 26, but future FUSEs happen on the last Friday of every month, so mark your calendar!