Things to Do in Vancouver this Weekend: Jan. 26, 2017

Happy Lunar New Year! According to Chinese astrology, anyone born after this Saturday this year (or in 1957) is a fire rooster, which sounds pretty cool. Though fire anything sounds cool. These fiery cocks (I can say that, right?) are confident, trustworthy, responsible, honest, and love to be the center of attention. Take a page from hot roosters this weekend and strut yourself around the town at dining events, shows, and all the brightly coloured festivities that will be in Chinatown and beyond.

 

Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Ongoing

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Friday January 27

Dine Out Vancouver Festival: Street Food City
Where: Robson St and South Plaza, Vancouver Art Gallery
What: Food trucks! So many of them, all in one place, you can eat all the different foods all day and never get flavour-bored.
Runs until: Sunday January 29, 3017

The Audience
Where: Arts Club Theatre
What: From Winston Churchill to Margaret Thatcher, through Tony Blair and right up to David Cameron, the Queen has held a weekly meeting, or “audience,” with each of her twelve prime ministers. Peter Morgan’s imaginary glimpses into these tête-à-têtes provide a droll and fascinating portrayal of a lioness of history—one who, over the span of six decades, transforms from an uncertain young monarch into the revered figurehead of today.
Runs until: Sunday February 26, 2017

Blue Rodeo
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
What: In the thirty years since forming, this Canadian folksy country rock group has sold over 4 million albums, won countless Juno awards, been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, been named to the Order of Canada and have been honoured with the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award.

Lizzo
Where: Alexander Gastown
What: American singer, rapper and performer, on tour to support her latest EP release “Coconut Oil”.

Man Up: Fallen Icons of 2016
Where: The Cobalt
What: Heard enough complaints about 2016? Still mourning the passing of some of the greatest heroes of modern music and pop culture? Believer in the cathartic healing powers of sweaty dance parties and impassioned drag performance in love and gratitude for visionary greats who kicked the can sooner than any of us expected? Yes yes yes. 

Requiem for a Generation
Where: The Orpheum
What: Maestro Tovey, the VSO, and the assembled choirs perform Jeffrey Ryan’s sublime Afghanistan: Requiem for a Generation, created with Canada’s war poet in Afghanistan, Suzanne M. Steele. Glenn Buhr describes his new work Guernica 2017 as a musical rant against the way children are victimized by our wars.

Cuisine & Confessions
Where: Vancouver Playhouse
What: A virtuosic mélange of circus, avant-garde dance, personal narrative, theatre, and cooking show comedy, Cuisine & Confessions explores stories from our family kitchens – food prepared, memories made – and rituals that underpin our most important relationships. Tickets available at Tickets Tonight.
Runs until: Sunday January 29, 2017

The Geekenders Present Portal 2: The (Unauthorized) Musical
Where: The Rio Theatre
What:  In the distant future, in a far off laboratory standing silent and long abandoned, we meet Chell. She has been asleep for a long time. When she’s awoken by a chatty, British, blue-eyed robot, she finds herself in a facility that is overgrown and falling apart. Together, the two attempt an escape, inadvertently stirring…. something.
Runs until: Sunday January 29, 2017

Us the Duo
Where: The Vogue
What: An American folk pop duo consisting of husband-and-wife Michael and Carissa Alvarado.

Big Wreck (show 1 of 2)
Where: The Commodore
What: Formed in the early 90s while all members were attending the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Big Wreck saw early success when their debut album, 1997’s In Loving Memory Of…, garnered the band three Top 10 singles (The Oaf, That Song, and Blown Wide Open), and a double Platinum certification.

Japan Unlayered
Where: Fairmont Pacific Rim
What: The exhibition will highlight the architecture of Kengo Kuma, from its small beginnings to its current large-scale works. Extending beyond the work of Kengo Kuma to include Japanese design from a wide range of fields represented by Muji, Beams Japan, Chef Nozaki of Waketokuyama, Sakurai Tea Experience, Acura Canada, and other Japanese design themes.
Runs until: Tuesday February 28, 2017

Shake Shake Shake: A Benefit Concert for Parkinson’s
Where: The Imperial
What: An evening of entertainment featuring local musical talent, including Emily Chambers, I M U R, Jesse Roper and Dutch Robinson.

Staying Vertical
Where: The Cinematheque
What: A fairy-tale-like meditation on what it means to be a vertical animal, it follows sexually-fluid screenwriter Léo (Damien Bonnard), who, while wandering the countryside in search of inspiration, unexpectedly becomes a single parent after fathering a child with a shepherdess (India Hair).
Runs until: Thursday February 2, 2017

Storm Brewing Social
Where: Storm Brewing
What: Beer samples, beer and ice cream floats, growler fills, and beer brainstorming.

Zimbamoto Locarno
Where: The Biltmore
What: Travel to Zimbabwe & Latin America in one evening, and dance to the vibrant rhythms of Zimbamoto and Tom Landa’s Locarno, two of Vancouver’s top world fusion bands.

East Side Flea
Where: 1024 Main St.
What: Over 50 local vendors, food trucks, a live deejay, artisan showrooms, seasonal drink specials, pinball and more.
Runs until: Sunday January 29, 2017

Tampopo
Where: The Cinematheque
What: Food, sex, and movie madness are the main ingredients of Juzo Itami’s oh-so-tasty Tampopo, a major art-house hit in the 1980s now newly restored and available for the first time in decades.
Runs until: Thursday February 2, 2017

 

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Saturday January 28

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Revenge of the Popinjay
Where: The Fox Cabaret, 9:00pm
What: In this experimental rap-horror show, Anthony struggles to cope with the loss of his sister while uncovering a frightening link between himself, his boyfriend and an elusive gay rap star/serial killer targeting heterosexuals. AnimalParts brings us this dark comedy that blends live hip-hop, storytelling, performance art and graphic “heterophobia” to create an exhilarating and brutally intimate event you won’t soon forget.

Learn How to Wear a Kimono
Where: UBC Museum of Anthropology
What:  Learn more about the cultural and historical context behind the kimono. Examine their beauty up-close and learn how to wear and tie a kimono with Chizuru Kinjo and Millie Creighton. Millie Creighton is an associate professor of Anthropology at UBC and Chizuru Kinjo is a licensed Kimono Consultant with years of training and dressing experience in Okinawa and Vancouver.

Bird Walk
Where: VanDusen Botanical Garden, 10:00am
What: Take a guided tour through VanDusen and learn about the native bird species that make their home in the garden.

Big Wreck (show 2 of 2)
Where: The Commodore
What: Formed in the early 90s while all members were attending the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Big Wreck saw early success when their debut album, 1997’s In Loving Memory Of…, garnered the band three Top 10 singles (The Oaf, That Song, and Blown Wide Open), and a double Platinum certification.

An Evening of Cabaret
Where: Canadian Music Centre BC
What: Featuring cabaret music by 20th century European composers Hanns Eisler, Kurt Weill and Eric Satie. This hour long program explores the compositions and themes around the time of World War Two, with specific emphasis placed on the poetry of Bertolt Brecht. Come early and enjoy a drink on the house, some light finger food, and treat yourself to an authentic German pretzel.

New Music for Old Instruments
Where: Christ Church Cathedral Vancouver
What: A collaboration with the Vancouver Symphony’s New Music Festival and the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, featuring counter-tenor Reginald L. Mobley.

Cool It! In Your Community
Where: Kitsilano Library
What: Designed to be engaging for both parents and children, and highlighting particular actions for each, the free 90 minute workshop will educate and inspire families to the actions they can take to reduce their GHG emissions, and help combat the effects of climate change.

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Sunday January 29

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Chinese New Year Festival and Parade
Where: Vancouver’s Chinatown
What: Celebrate the new year of the Chinese lunar calendar at this fun parade for everyone and the whole family. As one of the largest annual parades in Vancouver, the parade features the largest assembly of traditional lion dance teams in Canada with dozens of colourful and energetic lions from various local fraternal and martial arts organizations.

Odysseo
Where: In a tent! A really giant high-tech tent.
What: 65 magnificent horses, 48 talented riders, acrobats, aerialists, dancers and musicians take the stage for a seamless look outside of reality. Deploying their extraordinary talents, the acrobats present a mix of force and sensitivity, interacting with the spellbound audience, while the live musicians and vocalist immerse spectators of all ages.
Runs until: Sunday February 19, 2017

Get Lucky: An Art Show
Where: Fortune Sound Club
What: Vancouver artists were asked to create artwork using red pocket/lucky envelopes as the canvas. The finished works will be exhibited at a one-day only art show at Fortune Sound Club’s Special Projects Space in Chinatown.

On a Wire
Where: The Orpheum
What: Bramwell Tovey and the VSO join forces with Standing Wave in an eclectic and wide-ranging new music performance.

Eating You Alive
Where: York Theatre
What: Featuring leading medical experts and researchers, Eating You Alive takes a scientific look at the reasons we’re so sick, who’s responsible for feeding us the wrong information and how we can use whole-food, plant-based nutrition to take control of our health—one bite at a time.

Kitty Nights 9th Anniversary
Where: The Biltmore
What: This burlesque show is celebrating 9 years. Performance and general frivolous fun. 

 

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Ongoing

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Strong Female Character (ends this weekend)
Where: Hot Art Wet City
What: 3 female artists look at feminine identity, both past and present, as defined within Western culture.
Runs until: Saturday January 28, 2017

East Side Flea (this weekend only)
Where: 1024 Main St.
What: Over 50 local vendors, food trucks, a live deejay, artisan showrooms, seasonal drink specials, pinball and more.
Runs until: Sunday January 29, 2017

Cuisine & Confessions (ends this weekend)
Where: Vancouver Playhouse
What: A virtuosic mélange of circus, avant-garde dance, personal narrative, theatre, and cooking show comedy, Cuisine & Confessions explores stories from our family kitchens – food prepared, memories made – and rituals that underpin our most important relationships. Tickets available at Tickets Tonight.
Runs until: Sunday January 29, 2017

The Geekenders Present Portal 2: The (Unauthorized) Musical  (this weekend only)
Where: The Rio Theatre
What:  In the distant future, in a far off laboratory standing silent and long abandoned, we meet Chell. She has been asleep for a long time. When she’s awoken by a chatty, British, blue-eyed robot, she finds herself in a facility that is overgrown and falling apart. Together, the two attempt an escape, inadvertently stirring…. something.
Runs until: Sunday January 29, 2017

Alexine McLeod (ends this week)
Where: Monte Clark Gallery
What: The artist presents wall-mounted abstract compositions that combine everyday materials including plastic, fabric, found objects, and light.
Runs until: Monday January 30, 2016

In the Footprint of the Crocodile Man
Where: UBC Museum of Anthropology
What: The Sepik River of Papua New Guinea is one of the largest river systems in the world, extraordinarily beautiful, but seldom visited. It is here that the Iatmul people, who live along its banks, have created internationally renowned works of art primarily inspired by stories of the majestic crocodile as the primordial creator. This unique exhibition will showcase the most comprehensive collection of contemporary Sepik art in North America for the first time. In addition to highlighting the exquisite carvings of Papua New Guinea’s latmul people, the exhibition will delve into their economic, cultural, and spiritual connections to the river system, drawing urgent attention to the logging and mining operations that pose environmental threats to the region.
Runs until: January 31, 2017

Staying Vertical
Where: The Cinematheque
What: A fairy-tale-like meditation on what it means to be a vertical animal, it follows sexually-fluid screenwriter Léo (Damien Bonnard), who, while wandering the countryside in search of inspiration, unexpectedly becomes a single parent after fathering a child with a shepherdess (India Hair).
Runs until: Thursday February 2, 2017

Tampopo
Where: The Cinematheque
What: Food, sex, and movie madness are the main ingredients of Juzo Itami’s oh-so-tasty Tampopo, a major art-house hit in the 1980s now newly restored and available for the first time in decades.
Runs until: Thursday February 2, 2017

Herd
Where: Kimoto Gallery
What: Within the confines of a farmers field, the animals naturally form a hierarchy of responsibility in the herd. We, artist Kevin Boyle argues, also live in a controlled environment, and assume our own conditioned roles in society, though the controls are much less obvious than a barbed wire fence.
Runs until: Saturday February 4, 2017

Tourism Vancouver’s Dine Out Vancouver Festival
Where: Various locations
What: Canada’s largest food and drink festival dishes up unlimited ways to enjoy the flavours of the city. Choose from a 17-day calendar of culinary events and experiences, hundreds of restaurants throughout the city and relaxing hotel Dine & Stay packages to create delicious experiences.
Runs until: Sunday February 5, 2017

PuSh International Performing Arts Festival
Where: Various locations
What: An eclectic festival that expands the horizons of Vancouver artists and audiences with work that is visionary, genre-bending, multi-disciplined, startling and original. Showcasing acclaimed international, Canadian and local artists the festival mixes them together with an alchemy that inspires audiences, rejuvenates artists, stimulates the industry and forges relationships around the globe.
Runs until: Sunday February 5, 2017

Juxtapoz x Superflat
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery
What: A manifesto for new creative practices that can no longer be adequately described by the traditional categories of art and production. Presenting the work of more than 30 artists from Japan, China, Korea, Europe and the United States this remarkable exhibition offers a unique insight into contemporary art and its place in cultural life.
Runs until: February 5, 2016

Mouthpiece
Where: The Cultch
What: Follow one woman, for one day, as she tries to find her voice. The push and the pull, the past and the present, the progress and the regression: this is the inner conflict that exists within a modern woman’s head, interweaving a cappella harmony, text, and movement.
Runs until: Sunday February 5, 2017

As Heavy as a Feather
Where: Centre A
What: Indigenous Taiwanese artist Chang En Man is having her first exhibition in North America. Chang’s practice is characterized by a dynamic interplay between story, tradition, and the struggles of indigenous peoples in the face of ongoing experiences of colonization.
Runs until: February 11, 2016

As I Lay Dying
Where: Arts Club Theatre
What: Witness this classic novel come to life in a highly imaginative production where drama and dance intersect. The Bundren family embarks on a 40-mile funeral procession to bring their mother to a final resting place and fulfill her dying wish. 
Runs until: Sunday February 12, 2017

Robson Square Ice Rink
Where: Robson Square
What: Ice skate for free or rent a pair for $4 on this outdoor, covered public rink right downtown.
Runs until: February 14, 2017

Hot Chocolate Festival
Where: Various locations
What: Vancouver’s best chocolatiers, pastry shops, bakeries, cafes, gelato and ice cream makers across the city make the humble hot chocolate hotter than it has ever been before by releasing special flavours for a limited time.
Runs until: Tuesday February 14, 2017

Odysseo
Where: In a tent! A really giant high-tech tent.
What: 65 magnificent horses, 48 talented riders, acrobats, aerialists, dancers and musicians take the stage for a seamless look outside of reality. Deploying their extraordinary talents, the acrobats present a mix of force and sensitivity, interacting with the spellbound audience, while the live musicians and vocalist immerse spectators of all ages.
Runs until: Sunday February 19, 2017

Judy Chartrand, What a Wonderful World
Where: The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art
What: Her beautiful and provocative work presents her own personal history and insights into life in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, and commentary on racism and post–colonial relations between Indigenous and non–Indigenous cultures.
Runs until: February 19, 2016

Flight of the Dragon
Where: FlyOver Canada
What: For a limited time, FlyOver Canada presents Flight of the Dragon, a flight ride experience that takes you over the breathtaking Chinese countryside and renowned landmarks. FlyOver Canada invites all guests to come and enjoy both FlyOver Canada and Flight of the Dragon; two virtual flight rides for the regular admission price.
Runs until: Sunday February 26, 2017

The Audience
Where: Arts Club Theatre
What: From Winston Churchill to Margaret Thatcher, through Tony Blair and right up to David Cameron, the Queen has held a weekly meeting, or “audience,” with each of her twelve prime ministers. Peter Morgan’s imaginary glimpses into these tête-à-têtes provide a droll and fascinating portrayal of a lioness of history—one who, over the span of six decades, transforms from an uncertain young monarch into the revered figurehead of today.
Runs until: Sunday February 26, 2017

Japan Unlayered
Where: Fairmont Pacific Rim
What: The exhibition will highlight the architecture of Kengo Kuma, from its small beginnings to its current large-scale works. Extending beyond the work of Kengo Kuma to include Japanese design from a wide range of fields represented by Muji, Beams Japan, Chef Nozaki of Waketokuyama, Sakurai Tea Experience, Acura Canada, and other Japanese design themes.
Runs until: Tuesday February 28, 2017

Haroon Mirza
Where: The Contemporary Art Gallery
What: The Contemporary Art Gallery presents the first solo exhibition in Canada by British artist Haroon Mirza.
Runs until: Sunday March 19, 2016

Layers of Influence
Where: UBC Museum of Anthropology
What: This stunning exhibition will explore clothing’s inherent evidence of human ingenuity, creativity and skill, drawing from MOA’s textile collection — the largest collection in Western Canada — to display a global range of materials, production techniques and adornments across different cultures and time frames.
Runs until: April 9, 2017

Vancouver Special
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery
What: The first iteration of this series and it features works by 40 artists produced within the last five years—Vancouver’s post-Olympic period. The exhibition includes many emerging artists as well as those who are more established but whose ideas were prescient. Some are recent arrivals to Vancouver, while others are long-term residents who have already made significant contributions. Others are nomadic, less settled in one place and are working energetically between several locations.
Runs until: April 17, 2016

Nat Bailey Stadium Winter Farmers Market
Where: Nat Bailey Stadium
What: Don’t fret the summers Farmers markets packing up – winter is here, and you can still shop local for fresh produce, preserves, baked goods, and crafts.
Runs until: April 22, 2017

Hastings Park Farmers Market
Where: Hastings Park (near the PNE)
What: The Hastings Park Farmers Market features a great selection of local produce; nursery items, fish, meat & dairy; artisan prepared foods, baking and treats; local crafts, and of course, food trucks.
Runs until: April 30, 2017

What are you up to this weekend? Tell me and the rest of Vancouver in the comments below or tweet me directly at @lextacular

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