Things to Do in Vancouver This Weekend

Along with Lunar New Year festivities (and a parade!) this weekend, sneakers meet stilettos at the Convention Centre where both Sneakercon and the Taboo Show will be set up. Also, throughout the city, there’s contemporary South African dance, a play poking fun at the yoga industry, a Jewish literary festival and live flamenco.

Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Ongoing



Friday February 8

Blood on the Dance Floor

Blood on the Dance Floor
Where: 149 West Hastings
What: A descendant of the Narangga and Kaurna nations of South Australia, choreographer/performer Jacob Boehme was diagnosed with HIV in 1998. In search of answers, he reached out to his ancestors. Through a powerful blend of theatre, image, text and choreography, Boehme pays homage to their ceremonies whilst dissecting the politics of gay, Blak and poz identities.
Runs until: Saturday February 9, 2019

The Lunarfest Gala

The Lunarfest Gala
Where: Vancouver Playhouse
What: An evening of performances that share the stories of how Taiwanese people celebrate the first 15 days of the Lunar New Year.

Chinese New Year at International Village

Chinese New Year at International Village
Where: International Village Mall
What: Traditional Chinese spring festivities and rituals with exhibition and sales booths.
Runs until: Sunday February 10, 2019

The Shoplifters
Where: Arts Club Theatre
What: Meet Alma, a career shoplifter who prefers the “five-finger discount” over any senior citizen’s deal. When a grocery store theft goes awry, her elaborate life of petty crime is halted by an overzealous security guard and his affable mentor.
Runs until: Saturday March 9, 2019

Vancouver TheatreSports Romance Week
Where: The Improv Centre
What: Romance blossoms when sprinkled liberally with laughter. This year for Valentine’s, forget the boring box of chocolates and celebrate the fun and funny things in relationships and romance.
Runs until: Thursday February 14, 2019

Yoga Play
Where: Gateway Theatre
What: Joan has been hired to stabilize Jojomon, a yoga apparel giant, after its CEO is brought down by a fat-shaming scandal. But just as she finds her footing, more trouble surfaces and the sales freefall. Jojomon needs an image makeover—and fast. This satire asks what it takes to find authenticity in a world determined to sell enlightenment.
Runs until: Saturday February 16, 2019

Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing
Where: The Cultch
What: Set in a theatrical world evoking colonial North Africa, this deadly serious and sublimely ridiculous story—of soldiers in love and women confined by tradition—is a bold and playful romp through the extremes of desire and ambition, loyalty and redemption.
Runs until: Saturday February 16, 2019

Brett Mitchell

Brett Mitchell
Where: Orpheum Theatre
What: The second concert in the VSO’s new after-work series, featuring guest conductor Brett Mitchell and two of the best-loved Czech pieces: Smetana’s The Moldau and Dvořák’s Symphony no. 8.

Taboo Naughty but Nice Sex Show
Where: Vancouver Convention Centre
What: An upscale adult playground dedicated to enhancing lifestyles, encouraging romance, personal betterment and all things Taboo. Enjoy entertainment, provocative and educational seminars, unique shopping, fashion shows and demonstrations.
Runs until: Sunday February 10, 2019

Vancouver International Boat Show

Vancouver International Boat Show
Where: BC Place Stadium & Granville Island
What: An annual event for over 50 years, the Vancouver International Boat Show is the premier boating event in Western Canada. It’s also the largest showcasing of the recreational boating industry in British Columbia. If you’re a boat fanatic, you’ll want to be there.
Runs until: Sunday February 10, 2019

Artist’s Choice Exhibition

Artist’s Choice Exhibition
Where: Federation Gallery
What: Artist members of the FCA are invited to display inventive, unique work that breaks out of their traditional artistic style. The exhibition is as diverse in subject as it is style.
Runs until: Sunday February 17, 2019

Mike Wilmot
Where: The Comedy Mix
What: If you live on the other side of the Atlantic and are a fan of Rich Hall, you probably saw Mike appear with him on the BBC in Rich Hall’s Cattle Drive or Rich Hall’s Fishing Show. Or you might have seen him as himself on the BBC in Never Mind the Buzzcocks or 28 Acts in 28 Minutes.
Runs until: Saturday February 9, 2019


Saturday February 9

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Truffles: Wild Harvest, Cultivation and Dogs

Truffles: Wild Harvest, Cultivation and Dogs
Where: UBC Farm
What: Learn about the wonderful culinary truffles that are native to BC, the Mediterranean truffles that are being cultivated here, the basics of truffle cultivation, how to find truffles with your trained truffle dog, and some tips on using truffles in the kitchen.

Sneakercon

Sneakercon
Where: Vancouver Convention Centre
What: This sneaker convention is over 10,000 sq. ft. of space to buy, sell and trade sneakers, where sneaker enthusiasts will be into some unique finds.

Jewish Book Festival
Where: Various locations
What: Six days packed with inspiring and entertaining  literary events including unique meet-the-author opportunities, readings, panel discussions, children’s and youth authors, wellness and food subjects and two onsite bookstores open throughout the week.
Runs until: Thursday February 14, 2019

The Aces

The Aces
Where: Fortune Sound Club
What: Electro pop from Utah.

Wiz Khalifa & Curren$y

Wiz Khalifa & Curren$y
Where: Commodore Ballroom
What: An American rapperwho has associated with Warner Bros. Records, Atlantic Records, Taylor Gang, and Rostrum.

Live Flamenco

Live Flamenco
Where: 1502 Duranleau Street
What: The Karen Flamenco Dance Company will perform traditional flamenco group dances, accompanied by live flamenco guitar and singer. The group will also dance classical and modern pieces along with compositions from Bizet, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, as well as contemporary music.
Runs until: Saturday February 23 (Saturdays)

Royal Blood: Music for Henry VIII

Royal Blood: Music for Henry VIII
Where: Chan Centre
What: The concert investigates King Henry VIII’s life and legacy with compositions from his turbulent court in the early 16th century. By delving into16th and17th century texts on themes of death, health, and love, the multi-award-winning ensemble will explore some of the drama that characterized life under the rule of one of England’s most unpredictable monarchs.

Keuning

Keuning
Where: The Biltmore
What: The Killers guitarist Dave Keuning’s solo project.

Kevin Mcgrath
Where: Yuk Yuks
What: Kevin got his start with The McGrath Brothers, a comedy music act that featured impressions of The Beach Boys, The Bee Gees, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and many more. Kevin began performing straight stand-up comedy when the brothers dis-banded and he hasn’t looked back.

Vancouver Golf Expo

Vancouver Golf Expo (day 1 of 2)
Where: PNE Forum
What: A show for people who are super into golf, golf equipment, swinging golf clubs, vast green fields, and driving little carts.

Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames

Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames
Where: Rogers Arena
What: It’s a hockey game.


Sunday February 10

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Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Parade

Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Parade
Where: Chinatown
What: A colourful celebration of spring! There will be lion dances, cultural dance troupes, marching bands and martial arts performances.

Coppélia
Where: Kay Meek Centre
What: This playful ballet takes us into the mysterious mind of Dr. Coppélius, a lonely and disillusioned toy maker who wishes he could bring his dolls to life to find his perfect wife. This comedic love story is told through the vibrant contemporary choreography of the award-winning Bengt Jörgen.

Truffles: Foray in the Field
Where: Langley, BC
What: Visit the only truffle orchard producing Bianchetto truffles (Tuber borchii) in British Columbia, in fact, in all of Canada. This truffle is native to the Mediterranean region but now cultivated in a very few orchards in North America. Participate in a real harvest with truffle dogs. Learn about cultivating Mediterranean truffles in BC by chatting with truffle experts. Join the handler-truffle dog foraging on this truffle foraging expedition in South Langley and sample some truffle hors-d’oeuvres.

Year of the Pig Temple Fair
Where: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
What: Activities include traditional storytelling, musical performances, pig-themed arts and crafts, tea tastings, ping-pong, and a marketplace featuring local creatives and entrepreneurs. Visitors will also be able to take in the 淑芳你好嘛 / Suk-Fong, How Are You? exhibition from artist Paul Wong.

Drama

Drama
Where: The Biltmore
What: This duo has been described as soulful electronic combining influences of house music, indie, neo-soul, pop and R&B. Their melancholy lyrics are a reflection of their own personal experiences relating to love and heartbreak. Together they make what they love to call “Happy-Sad Music.”

Hendi and Hormoz

Hendi and Hormoz
Where: The Cinematheque
What: On the crimson beaches of the hematite-rich island of Hormuz, 13-year-old Hendi is married off to 16-year-old Hormoz, who is jobless and lives in poverty like most of the island’s inhabitants. When Hendi becomes pregnant, Hormoz turns to a drug smuggler in an effort to ensure his family’s livelihood.

Vancouver Golf Expo (day 2 of 2)
Where: PNE Forum
What: A show for people who are super into golf, golf equipment, swinging golf clubs, vast green fields, and driving little carts.


Ongoing

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Circle Game – Re-imagining the Work of Joni Mitchell | Image by Emily Cooper

Circle Game – Re-imagining the Work of Joni Mitchell
Where: Firehall Arts Centre
What: One of the most influential recording artists of the late 20th century, Joni Mitchell has often reflected on social and environmental ideals through her music. Circle Gamereinterprets Mitchell’s iconic songs such as Big Yellow Taxi, River, California and A Case of You through the ears and eyes of a new generation, connecting them to the politics and world we know today.
Runs until: Saturday February 9, 2019

Blood on the Dance Floor

Blood on the Dance Floor
Where: 149 West Hastings
What: A descendant of the Narangga and Kaurna nations of South Australia, choreographer/performer Jacob Boehme was diagnosed with HIV in 1998. In search of answers, he reached out to his ancestors. Through a powerful blend of theatre, image, text and choreography, Boehme pays homage to their ceremonies whilst dissecting the politics of gay, Blak and poz identities.
Runs until: Saturday February 9, 2019

A Prayer for Owen Meanie
Where: Pacific Theatre
What: Owen Meany believes he is an instrument of the divine. As he and his best friend John navigate the turbulent America of the 1960’s, Owen pulls the strings of a plan invisible to everyone but him and – perhaps – God. An epic tale of faith, absurdity, and the power of a single voice.
Runs until: Saturday February 9, 2019

Taboo Naughty but Nice Sex Show
Where: Vancouver Convention Centre
What: An upscale adult playground dedicated to enhancing lifestyles, encouraging romance, personal betterment and all things Taboo. Enjoy entertainment, provocative and educational seminars, unique shopping, fashion shows and demonstrations.
Runs until: Sunday February 10, 2019

Vancouver International Boat Show

Vancouver International Boat Show
Where: BC Place Stadium & Granville Island
What: An annual event for over 50 years, the Vancouver International Boat Show is the premier boating event in Western Canada. It’s also the largest showcasing of the recreational boating industry in British Columbia. If you’re a boat fanatic, you’ll want to be there.
Runs until: Sunday February 10, 2019

Vancouver TheatreSports Romance Week
Where: The Improv Centre
What: Romance blossoms when sprinkled liberally with laughter. This year for Valentine’s, forget the boring box of chocolates and celebrate the fun and funny things in relationships and romance.
Runs until: Thursday February 14, 2019

Jewish Book Festival
Where: Various locations
What: Six days packed with inspiring and entertaining  literary events including unique meet-the-author opportunities, readings, panel discussions, children’s and youth authors, wellness and food subjects and two onsite bookstores open throughout the week.
Runs until: Thursday February 14, 2019

Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival
Where: Various locations
What: Over 20 of Vancouver’s best cafés and restaurants offer mugs of limited edition hot chocolates—past flavours have included ginger hot chocolate, Mexican hot chocolate infused with hibiscus, and hazelnut hot chocolate served with Crown Royal whiskey marshmallows.
Runs until: Thursday February 14, 2019

Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing
Where: The Cultch
What: Set in a theatrical world evoking colonial North Africa, this deadly serious and sublimely ridiculous story—of soldiers in love and women confined by tradition—is a bold and playful romp through the extremes of desire and ambition, loyalty and redemption.
Runs until: Saturday February 16, 2019

Yoga Play
Where: Gateway Theatre
What: Joan has been hired to stabilize Jojomon, a yoga apparel giant, after its CEO is brought down by a fat-shaming scandal. But just as she finds her footing, more trouble surfaces and the sales freefall. Jojomon needs an image makeover—and fast. This satire asks what it takes to find authenticity in a world determined to sell enlightenment.
Runs until: Saturday February 16, 2019

Annie: The Musical

Annie: The Musical
Where: Michael J. Fox Theatre
What: The story of Annie, a plucky 11-year-old overflowing with infectious optimism and curly red hair. The Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical is set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, throwing into sharp relief the beauty of the spirited character’s hopefulness in dire times. Featuring a fresh cast of young local talent.
Runs until:  Saturday February 16, 2019

Artist’s Choice Exhibition

Artist’s Choice Exhibition
Where: Federation Gallery
What: Artist members of the FCA are invited to display inventive, unique work that breaks out of their traditional artistic style. The exhibition is as diverse in subject as it is style.
Runs until: Sunday February 17, 2019

Coastal Lunar Lanterns

Coastal Lunar Lanterns
Where: Jack Poole Plaza
What: Eight gigantic and iconic lanterns will be raised to ring in the Year of the Pig at Jack Poole Plaza; they are designed by Musqueam, Squamish, and Tslei-Waututh artists and a guest indigenous artist from the Zihing tribe in Taiwan.
Runs until: Monday February 18, 2019

Lunar New Year at Metropolis

Lunar New Year at Metropolis
Where: Metrotown Mall
What: Hundreds of lanterns will be the backdrop for beautiful photos visitors can take with their family or friends. Metropolis will also be hosting a series of activities including Chinese calligraphy and lantern making, traditional chinese dance performances, and an Asian travel-themed photo booth.
Runs until: Tuesday February 19, 2019

Live Flamenco

Live Flamenco
Where: 1502 Duranleau Street
What: The Karen Flamenco Dance Company will perform traditional flamenco group dances, accompanied by live flamenco guitar and singer. The group will also dance classical and modern pieces along with compositions from Bizet, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, as well as contemporary music.
Runs until: Saturday February 23 (Saturdays)

The Matchmaker
Where: Arts Club Theatre
What: Horace Vandergelder seeks a wife and matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi doesn’t need to look very far to find her. With forbidden young love and mistaken identities afoot, more than one match is sure to be made. Experience the pandemonium of this classic—and the inspiration for Hello, Dolly!—that embraces the unexpected in a truly modern way.
Runs until: Sunday February 24, 2019

True Crime
Where: Arts Club Theatre
What: Christian Gerhartsreiter—aka Clark Rockefeller—is a con man of the highest order, now serving a near-life sentence in a California State prison. Iconic provocateur and musician Torquil Campbell wants to try him on for size. This dogged investigation and impersonation dares us to find the truth and confront our cultural addiction to a good story—at any cost.
Runs until: Sunday February 24, 2019

The Shoplifters
Where: Arts Club Theatre
What: Meet Alma, a career shoplifter who prefers the “five-finger discount” over any senior citizen’s deal. When a grocery store theft goes awry, her elaborate life of petty crime is halted by an overzealous security guard and his affable mentor.
Runs until: Saturday March 9, 2019

Body Language: Reawakening Cultural Tattooing of the Northwest

Body Language: Reawakening Cultural Tattooing of the Northwest
Where: Bill Reid Gallery
What: Explore the rich history and artistry of Indigenous tattooing, piercing and personal adornment on the Northwest Coast. These five contemporary Indigenous artists are at the forefront of the revival of Indigenous tattooing in BC. They are reclaiming traditional techniques and traditional rights to be tattooed, and building awareness of the significance and protocols around the tattooing traditions.
Runs until: Sunday March 17, 2019

The Metamorphosis

The Metamorphosis
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery
What: This exhibition ties together provocative themes and ideas of change undertaken in more than forty remarkable contemporary works selected from the Gallery’s collection. With its title inspired by Franz Kafka’s 1915 novella, The Metamorphosis invokes a compelling human and creative desire to explore oneself and the world. Kafka’s literary classic follows the experience of a man who, upon waking up, finds himself transformed into a giant insect. This exhibition looks at Kafka’s themes by way of visual art that addresses physical, spiritual and cultural transformation.
Runs until: Sunday March 17, 2019

A Curator’s View: Ian Thom Selects

A Curator’s View: Ian Thom Selects
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery
What: A showcase of the span of the gallery’s rich permanent collection through an exhibition of nearly ninety works including paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures. Since the Gallery’s establishment in 1931, its permanent collection has become the most comprehensive resource for visual culture in British Columbia. Building on the collection’s historical and contemporary strengths, the Gallery continues to steward acquisitions through donation and purchase.
Runs until: Sunday March 17, 2019

Anne Low: Chair for a Woman

Anne Low: Chair for a Woman
Where: Contemporary Art Gallery
What: Low’s artistic research is typically rooted in a close looking at historical objects, materials and surfaces, especially those created immediately prior to the Industrial Revolution. She is concerned with the specific conditions under which such objects are produced and consumed—particularly by women—and the domestic spaces they defined.
Runs until: Sunday March 24, 2019

Aslan Gaisumov

Aslan Gaisumov
Where: Contemporary Art Gallery
What: This exhibition brings together two works never previously shown together and, in so doing, offers a new means through which to consider many of the concerns that have shaped the artist’s practice over the past eight years.
Runs until: Sunday March 24, 2019

Marking the Infinite: Contemporary Women Artists from Aboriginal Australia

Marking the Infinite: Contemporary Women Artists from Aboriginal Australia
Where: Museum of Anthropology
What: Showcasing for the first time in MOA’s history a presentation of all-women artists, this exhibition features the artworks of nine Aboriginal women, who are all celebrated artists from tiny remote communities across Australia’s deserts and tropical north. Encompassing a wide range of subjects from the natural to sublime and from minute organisms to vast celestial bodies, the exhibition invites visitors to explore the immutable tension between the universal and the specific, and discover the power of traditional Indigenous knowledge in an increasingly digital world.
Runs until: Sunday March 31, 2019

Fitness For All

Fitness For All
Where: 1100 West Georgia Street
What: Chinese contemporary art collective Polit-Sheer-Form Office (PSFO) has produced a five-piece set of exercise equipment specially designed for the Vancouver public. The artists’ decree suggests that establishing a more collective self-awareness fosters inclusivity and collaboration within a community.
Runs until: Sunday March 31, 2019

In a Different Light

In a Different Light
Where: Museum of Anthropology
What: More than 110 historical Indigenous artworks and marks the return of many important works to British Columbia. These objects are amazing artistic achievements. Yet they also transcend the idea of ‘art’ or ‘artifact’. Through the voices of contemporary First Nations artists and community members, this exhibition reflects on the roles historical artworks have today. Featuring immersive storytelling and innovative design, it explores what we can learn from these works and how they relate to Indigenous peoples’ relationships to their lands.
Runs until: Spring 2019

Hastings Park Farmers Market

Hastings Park Farmers Market
Where: Hastings Park
What: Find a weekly selection of locally grown fruit and veggies, farm fresh meat, eggs and dairy products, fresh baked sourdough bread and treats, craft beer, wine and spirits, artisanal prepared food, local crafts, hot coffee and food trucks.
Runs until: Sunday April 28, 2019 (Sundays)

Wild Things: The Power of Nature in Our Lives

Wild Things: The Power of Nature in Our Lives
Where: Museum of Vancouver
What: This exhibition delves into the life stories of local animals and plants—how they relate to each other and how they connect people to nature in the city. Scenic design, videos, taxidermy, crowd-sourcing technologies, and the display of natural specimens breathe life into these tales of co-habitation. The immersive nature of the exhibition, including hands-on activities, encourages visitors to examine their relationship with nature, think about momentarily disconnecting from their devices, and find equilibrium with the natural world around them.
Runs until: July 2019

Making Waves: The Story and Legacy of Greenpeace
Where: Vancouver Maritime Museum
What: With humble beginnings in Vancouver, Greenpeace has grown into a large organization with offices in 40 countries. The NGO has protested numerous causes: whaling, deforestation, mining, genetic testing, and nuclear testing. Explore this exhibit that goes from their first voyage from Vancouver to Amchitka to protest Nuclear testing on an old fishing vessel to how cities, government, and industry today are developing new policies, technologies, and sustainable practices to ensure the preservation of our environment.
Runs until: Monday September 9, 2019

Shake Up: Preserving What We Value

Shake Up: Preserving What We Value
Where: Museum of Anthropology
What: The exhibition will bring to light the convergence of earthquake science and technology with the rich Indigenous knowledge and oral history of the living cultures represented in MOA’s Northwest Coast collection. Beyond scientific discoveries, knowledge of earthquakes and natural disasters has been passed down through generations throughout many cultures, including those of the Northwest Coast First Nations. Also as part of the exhibition, visitors will have the opportunity to see the majestic poles of the Great Hall undergo conservation, many for the first time in 40 years.
Runs until: Fall 2019

How Far Do You Travel

How Far Do You Travel
Where: Select B-Line TransLink busses
What: Five Canadian artists — Diyan Achjadi, Patrick Cruz, Rolande Souliere, Erdem Tasdelen and Anna Torma — are being commissioned to graphically wrap the exterior of a series of articulated buses traveling on major routes in Metro Vancouver.
Runs until: Tuesday December 31, 2019

What are you up to this weekend? Tell me and the rest of Vancouver in the comments below.

 

 

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