April 16: A pizza pro returns

Hey there. We’re due for a few days of sunshine on the west coast, and temperatures creeping towards 20 degrees. Is it too soon to feel like we’re on the precipice of summer? 

Remember to drink lots of water, wear sunscreen, and stop to smell the flowers. And if you’re somewhere where the weather is less glorious—like me, currently sitting through an unseasonable hail shower—then, uh, the same rules still apply. Stay hydrated!

— V.
Associate Editor

FEATURE

Narrow Lounge to shut for a week following No Fun inspectors

Mount Pleasant’s beloved Narrow Lounge will be sitting out service at the end of the month. The bar fell foul of provincial Liquor and Cannabis Regulation inspectors and, rather than fork over a fine, chose to shutter for a week to rework its menu and repaint the space. Owner David Duprey gives us the lowdown.

CITY & CULTURE

Sex//Work: Sex work is a community like any other

“I know the majority of the population believes that sex workers are lonely drug addicts. That’s the stigma that the media has propagandized, and it is simply not true,” writes Lexci Lust in our latest Sex//Work column. Rather, the diverse and varied industry tends to band together.

• What goes into making TransLink’s podcast?

• Perspectives in Place: the German Watchmaker is always on time

• Commentary: Why I didn’t go to the Shein Vancouver pop-up

• Keep your licence. The experienced lawyers at Acumen Law Corporation will give you the strongest legal defence to keep you in the driver’s seat.*

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SPONSORED BY FLIGHT CENTRE

Straight Playoff Bandwagon ready to launch

The Georgia Straight Playoff Bandwagon is leaving the station and heading to either Nashville, Vegas or LA. 

As a dedicated Vancouver Canucks fan, you have the opportunity to experience the exhilaration of playoff hockey in the opposing city, thanks to Flight Center which is facilitating fan travel.  

Seize this rare opportunity to be part of an extraordinary playoff ride. Join us on a memorable journey to Nashville, Vegas, or LA for the first-round Games 3 and 4. Share the thrill of the open road, the chants, and the cheers in a collective expression of support. The Straight will accompany you, hosting meet-ups and tailgate events in each city. 

This trip is a pilgrimage, a testament to our enduring spirit and love for the Canucks. Join the excitement, immerse yourself in the playoff atmosphere, and secure your spot on this epic adventure. 

Let’s cheer on the Canucks together in their quest for glory!

ARTS

Family Room explores nuanced love

Marissa Wong, artistic director of The Falling Company, doesn’t shy away from difficult topics. Family Room, which premieres this weekend, is her most personal work yet: exploring the ways we can hurt the ones we love most through a mix of dance and theatre. “It’s been a lot of uncovering,” she says, “coming into a further understanding of myself, and the history that has made me who I am.”

• Photos: Vancouver International Burlesque Festival brought glitter and sensuality

• The Improv Centre’s next show promises an homage to summer camp

MUSIC

Teigen Gayse reps BC at the Coast City Country festival

The first-ever Coast City Country Festival kicks off this weekend, as Vancouver turns into Nashville for a weekend of twanging tunes. Teigen Gayse’s yeehaw hooks help her fit right into the country music capital now, but she’s originally from a small town in Northern BC. “Chetwynd and the Indigenous community there were just so wonderful,” the Métis musician tells us. “I’m definitely trying to make everyone proud.”  

• Juno- and Grammy-nominated artists headline the Lapu-Lapu Block Party

• What’s In Your Fridge: Legacy, the Producer

• Jazz educator Phil Nimmons has died aged 100

• The Comox Valley is Vancouver Island’s adventure and culinary destination. Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland, invite you to spend time here on your next trip!*

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SPONSORED BY MODO-LIVE

INIKO Brings The Awakening Tour to The Pearl

Expressive and existentially curious, singer/songwriter Iniko makes music for soul searchers. The Brooklyn native fuses sinewy vocals, the musicality of a multi-instrumentalist, and an adventurous imagination to tackle anxiety, damaged romance, and philosophy with warmth and whimsy. Don't miss them next Saturday April 27th. Tickets selling fast!

FOOD & DRINK

Corduroy Pie Co’s Graham Marceau is opening a new restaurant in Surrey

If you still miss the pizza place on West 16th that felt like a neighbourhood secret, you’re not alone! But the chef behind Corduroy Pie, Graham Marceau, has opened a new joint. Noble, which “puts a unique spin on traditional Italian dishes,” has just opened its doors for dinner service. Buon appetito!

• Lee’s Donuts is opening in Steveston Village

• Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine is launching an afternoon tea experience

• Discover old growth forest and west coast charm, waterfalls and mountain views in the Alberni Valley. Outdoor enthusiasts will find breathtaking hikes, mountain biking, zip lines, kiteboarding and surfing.*

• Hop on the Straight Playoff Bandwagon to Nashville, Vegas, or LA! Experience playoff hockey live with the Canucks at Games 3 and 4. Join fellow fans for tailgate events and cheer on your team. Don't miss this unforgettable journey—book now with Flight Center!*

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SPONSORED BY IN FLAMES

Pakistan's Academy Award Entry IN FLAMES Opens in Vancouver with Award-winning Pakistani-Canadian director & cast in attendance

In Flames, Pakistan’s Best International Feature Film 2024 Academy Awards® entry, is coming to Cineplex International Village in Vancouver starting April 19th. Pakistani-Canadian writer/director Zarrar Kahn and cast will be in town on opening night for a Q&A about the psychological thriller heralded by Indiewire as “...a Kafkaesque nightmare.”

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK

FILM  📽️
Documentary Elephant Warriors, following female conservation rangers in Kenya, premieres. (April 16 @ Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre) 

MUSIC 🎤
Kingston indie band Kasador comes to town. (April 17 @ The Pearl)

THEATRE 🎭
Francophone production Maurice chronicles a man’s struggle with aphasia. English surtitles. (April 17 to 20 @ Studio 16)

THEATRE 🎭
The Cultch’s powerful Femme Fest premieres continue with intergenerational narrative You Used to Call Me Marie. (April 18 to 28 @ York Theatre)

VISUAL ART 🖼️
Whitney Lewis-Smith’s solo photography exhibition, The Overview, explores our relationship to nature. (April 18 to May 12 @ Kotsuik Gallery)

WORKSHOP 🎨
Learn how to take phone photography to the next level with skilful smartphone editing. (April 18 @ The Gallery George)

DANCE 💃
Dorrance Dance’s SOUNDscape has its propulsive Canadian premiere. (April 19 to 20 @ Vancouver Playhouse)

Want to know what else is happening in Vancouver? Check out our events listings.

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