Things to Do in Vancouver this Weekend: Feb. 9, 2017

If your family is into wine, films, performance or music, you should count your lucky stars this weekend, or your lucky planets – both Venus and Mars are shining super brightly just after sunset! Here are some things to do aside from braving the cold to stargaze, including the Vancouver International Wine Festival, and if you’re feeling romantic, a way to get married for free.

 

Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Ongoing

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Friday February 10

VSO: The Sounds of Simon & Garfunkel (show 1 of 2)
Where: The Orpheum
What: Michael Krajewski is one of the most accomplished Pops conductors in the world today, holding posts as Music Director of the Philly Pops, and Principal Pops Conductor in Atlanta, Jacksonville and Houston. He leads a program that features A.J. Swearingen and Jonathan Beedle, who have performed their remarkable tribute to legendary folk-rock artists Simon & Garfunkel to sold-out houses for over a decade.
Runs until: Saturday February 11, 2017

Kinky Boots
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
What: Inspired by true events, Kinky Boots takes you from a gentlemen’s shoe factory in Northampton to the glamorous catwalks of Milan. Charlie Price is struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and continue the family business of Price & Son. With the factory’s future hanging in the balance, help arrives in the unlikely but spectacular form of Lola, a fabulous performer in need of some sturdy new stilettos.
Runs until: Sunday February 12, 2017

Foreign Radical
Where: Studio 1398
What: An interactive, multimedia experience with multilingual elements in Farsi and Arabic. Each performance is unique in that the audience dynamic influences the outcome. The set is divided into four quadrants where participants, depending on personal and group responses to various questions posed by the game’s ‘host’, witness different perspectives on the action. They are at times divided into groups or left all alone to gather evidence from dramatic scenes and documentary media that colour their views and how they play the game.
Runs until: Saturday February 11, 2017

Elle
Where: Firehall Arts Centre
What: the story of Marguerite de La Rocque de Roberval, a French noblewoman who set out in 1542 for Canada with her uncle, Jacques Cartier to colonize the new found country. However, she finds herself abandoned on the deserted ‘Isle of Demons’ (off the coast of Newfoundland) as punishment for taking a lover during the voyage. With real bears, spirit bears, and perhaps hallucinated bears, along with the residue of a somewhat lurid religious faith and a world of self-preserving belligerence, the voluble heroine does more than survive.
Runs until: Saturday February 18, 2017

The Men in White
Where: Arts Club Theatre
What: When Abdul’s cricket team decides to take action to end their losing streak, they talk of recruiting Abdul’s brother, Hasan, who is an expert at the sport. But bringing Hasan from India to Canada will take more than just a plane ticket, and not all members of the team agree with the high cost.
Runs until: Saturday March 11, 2017

The Oscar Shorts
Where: VanCity Theatre
What: See the Oscar nominees for short films. Presented by category.
Runs until: Thursday February 23, 2017

Do Not Resist
Where: The Cinematheque, 7:00pm
What: Expertly-chosen court and news footage show the cause-and-effect relationship between bureaucratic decisions and street-level reality. But the most deeply troubling ideas examined are the shifts in attitude, as police become something akin to an occupying army. As the U.S. slides further into a fascist mentality, Do Not Resist is a necessary and critical film.

The Whammys II
Where: The Rickshaw
What: An annual, local, independent music awards ceremony that recognizes the local, largely underground, and under-celebrated artistic talent in Vancouver. There are over 20 categories and here are the top 4 of each one nominated by the public.

+Plus and Convergence
Where: Kimoto Gallery
What: New works from Michael Soltis and Yorke Graham.
Runs until: Saturday March 4, 2017

Lanterns in the Garden
Where: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
What: The entire garden will be covered with traditional Chinese lanterns and special theme lanterns designed, ordered, made and shipped from China. There will be a spacious yard filled with Yuanxiao and other Asian delicacies and a series of documentaries about the Yuanxiao Festival and other traditional Chinese culture.

Tom Green’s Snow Jam
Where: Venue
What: Remember Tom Green? The Canadian who paved the way for “Jackass” is on a comedy and hip hop tour.

USS
Where: The Commodore
What: At the backbone of this upcoming tour is the band’s new album, New World Alphabet. Produced by award-winning Tawgs Salter, the collection’s first single – “Work Shoes” – has earned boisterous praise from radio stations across the country, earning the #3 spot in Canada and making it the band’s third Top 5 single.

The Legend of Zelda Valentine’s Dance
Where: EXP Restaurant
What: Fill your heart containers with a DJ Spin Kringle and fill your stomachs with some awesome food and drinks. Legend of Zelda fans (and other classic gamers) unite.

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Saturday February 11

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Vancouver International Wine Festival
Where: Various locations
What: For noted oenophiles and the casual wino alike, Canada’s premier wine show is a celebration of informative, educational and entertaining wine experience. From educational seminars, wine tastings and minglers to wine and food grazing events, lunches, winery dinners and the ever-popular Vintners Brunch, you’ll be sure to find something to please your palate.
Runs until: Sunday February 19, 2017

Film Screening: Alternative Facts
Where: 221A, 5:00pm
What: Since Donald Trump’s adviser Kellyanne Conway referred to “alternative facts,” George Orwell’s 1984 has sold out on Amazon. In this moment of post-truth and reality-politics, it seems that the term “reality” itself has never been so abstract. Diving into the world of reality TV and the cyberpunk prophecy, where facts become commodities, this screening aims to explore the ambiguous crack that separates lived experience from its representations and transformations. The program includes content from artists’ films and popular culture to underline the process that has resulted in our current situation as an aftermath.

Family Day Storytelling
Where: The Bill Reid Gallery, 11:00am
What: The morning features live, interactive traditional storytelling from Kenthen Thomas (Secwepemc), a Northwest Coast themed colouring station, and healthy child-friendly refreshments. All are welcome.

24 Hours of Winter on Grouse Mountain
Where: Grouse Mountain
What: Celebrate on the slopes from sundown to sunrise. Dance or skate the night away under starry skies as DJs spin your favourite tracks. Glide down The Cut while taking in a spectacular Vancouver sunrise or enjoy one of the many round- the – clock activities.

Extreme Survivors: Winter Wildlife
Where: Stanley Park, 1:30pm
What: From chickadees to crows, insects to amphibians, and shrews to squirrels, animals display a bewildering variety of adaptations for surviving the winter. Bundle up and walk with experts to explore how wintering animals beat the cold and meet their shelter, food, and water needs.

Snowed In Comedy Tour
Where: York Theatre
What: Four international comedians come together to create one amazing show with each bringing a unique and hilarious take providing something for everyone.

Soliterre + Funk Schwey + Mr. Stee
Where: The Biltmore
What: Pop, funk, and chill instrumental hip hop.

Boots & Babes Ball
Where: The Commodore
What:Washboard Union plays at this country music night where you can dust off that cowboy hat that’s been lurking in the closet.

VSO: The Sounds of Simon & Garfunkel (show 2 of 2)
Where: The Orpheum
What: Michael Krajewski is one of the most accomplished Pops conductors in the world today, holding posts as Music Director of the Philly Pops, and Principal Pops Conductor in Atlanta, Jacksonville and Houston. He leads a program that features A.J. Swearingen and Jonathan Beedle, who have performed their remarkable tribute to legendary folk-rock artists Simon & Garfunkel to sold-out houses for over a decade.
Runs until: Saturday February 11, 2017

80s Valentines Prom
Where: The Fox Cabaret
What: The ultimate high school style Valentine’s dance, but with less teachers and more booze. Oh, and no teenagers. Except maybe 19-year-olds.

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Sunday February 12

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Love in the Square: Get Married for Free
Where: Robson Square
What: Want the ultimate frugal wedding? Bring a donation and you can wed for free. (You’ll need to bring a marriage license, so some planning ahead is required.)

Family Day Weekend at the MOA
Where: The Museum of Anthropology
What: Bring the family for some Brazilian culture and Capoeira workshops.

Inner Beauty Pageant
Where: The Junction
What: Open to all genders, body types and zodiac signs, the Inner Beauty Pageant is a chance to celebrate the diva in all of us. Sign up to compete or come cheer on the contestants in this fundraising extravaganza for the upcoming musical, Robin Hood: Prince of Tease, from Too Fly Productions. With entertainment, drinks, prizes and a giant crown to win.

Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival
Where: The Cinematheque, The Rio
What: By presenting unique outdoor and mountaineering films that illustrate experiences and cultures from all corners of the globe, VIMFF brings communities together to promote positive values and active lifestyles.
Runs until: Friday February 17, 2017

 

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Ongoing

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As Heavy as a Feather (ends this weekend)
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

Foreign Radical (ends this weekend)
Where: Studio 1398
What: An interactive, multimedia experience with multilingual elements in Farsi and Arabic. Each performance is unique in that the audience dynamic influences the outcome. The set is divided into four quadrants where participants, depending on personal and group responses to various questions posed by the game’s ‘host’, witness different perspectives on the action. They are at times divided into groups or left all alone to gather evidence from dramatic scenes and documentary media that colour their views and how they play the game.
Runs until: Saturday February 11, 2017

As I Lay Dying (ends this weekend)
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

Kinky Boots (this weekend only)
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
What: Inspired by true events, Kinky Boots takes you from a gentlemen’s shoe factory in Northampton to the glamorous catwalks of Milan. Charlie Price is struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and continue the family business of Price & Son. With the factory’s future hanging in the balance, help arrives in the unlikely but spectacular form of Lola, a fabulous performer in need of some sturdy new stilettos.
Runs until: Sunday February 12, 2017

Robson Square Ice Rink (ends this week)
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 (ends this week)
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

Throwdown  (ends this week)
Where: Granville Island
What: TheatreSports teams from around the world bring their A-game to head-to head matches with each other and local teams comprised of some of VTSL’s top improvisers.
Runs until:Tuesday February 14, 2017

Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival
Where: The Cinematheque
What: By presenting unique outdoor and mountaineering films that illustrate experiences and cultures from all corners of the globe, VIMFF brings communities together to promote positive values and active lifestyles.
Runs until: Friday February 17, 2017

Elle
Where: Firehall Arts Centre
What: the story of Marguerite de La Rocque de Roberval, a French noblewoman who set out in 1542 for Canada with her uncle, Jacques Cartier to colonize the new found country. However, she finds herself abandoned on the deserted ‘Isle of Demons’ (off the coast of Newfoundland) as punishment for taking a lover during the voyage. With real bears, spirit bears, and perhaps hallucinated bears, along with the residue of a somewhat lurid religious faith and a world of self-preserving belligerence, the voluble heroine does more than survive.
Runs until: Saturday February 18, 2017

Vancouver International Wine Festival
Where: Various locations
What: For noted oenophiles and the casual wino alike, Canada’s premier wine show is a celebration of informative, educational and entertaining wine experience. From educational seminars, wine tastings and minglers to wine and food grazing events, lunches, winery dinners and the ever-popular Vintners Brunch, you’ll be sure to find something to please your palate.
Runs until: Sunday February 19, 2017

The Oscar Shorts
Where: VanCity Theatre
What: See the Oscar nominees for short films. Presented by category.
Runs until: Thursday February 23, 2017

Toy Babies
Where: Hot Art Wet City
What: Doll-headed portraits will once again be filling the gallery for Andrea Hooge’s fifth solo show. Andrea takes her inspiration in part from vintage children’s toys and books, her cultural heritage, and the memories of her childhood understandings of the world.
Runs until: Saturday February 25, 2017

Corleone The Shakespearean Godfather
Where: Pacific Theatre
What: A classic tale of power, destiny, betrayal and honour: what if Shakespeare had written The Godfather? This brilliant comic premise takes on surprising dramatic power as Coppola’s movie masterpiece shows itself to be true Elizabethan tragedy.
Runs until: Wednesday February 25, 2017

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

Unsung Heroes Festival
Where: Blue Water Cafe
What: A month-long event to bring awareness to local and unique seafoods and to avoid species that are over-fished or harvested in ways that can damage ocean beds. In prior years, the menu has consisted of dishes such as whelk paella, steamed gooseneck barnacles and sustainably-raised sturgeon liver mousse.
Runs until: Tuesday February 28, 2017

+Plus and Convergence
Where: Kimoto Gallery
What: New works from Michael Soltis and Yorke Graham.
Runs until: Saturday March 4, 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 March 5, 2017

The Men in White
Where: Arts Club Theatre
What: When Abdul’s cricket team decides to take action to end their losing streak, they talk of recruiting Abdul’s brother, Hasan, who is an expert at the sport. But bringing Hasan from India to Canada will take more than just a plane ticket, and not all members of the team agree with the high cost.
Runs until: Saturday March 11, 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

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: Saturday March 25, 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: Sunday 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: Monday 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: Saturday 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: Sunday 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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