• Georgia Straight
  • Posts
  • December 19 edition: We’re too obsessed with single-family homes

December 19 edition: We’re too obsessed with single-family homes

Plus: Local beer history, and ciao to Cannibal Cafe

December 19, 2023

Hey there. How’s your week going? 

It’s Tuesday, so there’s plenty of time for it to go either way. It’s the choose-your-own adventure of life. Does this newsletter tip you towards having a better day or a worse day? That’s on you to decide!

— V.
Associate Editor

Contest Alert

To celebrate the best cinema of 2023, we’re giving away the ultimate VIFF prize package over on our Instagram.

Contest ends December 20 at 11:59pm PST. Winners will be contacted via Instagram.

FEATURE

Commentary: Our obsession with single-family homes is all wrong

A photograph of a modern two-storey home with huge glass windows through the second storey and gabled roof, in front of a brilliant blue sky.

Prioritizing single-family homes above all other kinds of housing isn’t a practical reality, argues Helen Lui.

CITY & CULTURE

The Museum of Vancouver’s “Home Brew” examines our hoppy history

A black-and-white photograph of two white men hauling bottles of beer.

A digital catalogue, available for free from the Museum of Vancouver, explores how Vancouver and beer made each other.

*sponsored listing

SPONSORED BY VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FILM CENTRE

Catch the Best Films of 2023

Watch the greatest films of the year in the city’s best cinema with VIFF's 10th annual Best of series.

Catch serious historical blockbusters like Oppenheimer, and quirky comedies like BlackBerry and Bottoms. There’s drama (The Eight Mountains), romance (Celine Song’s Past Lives; Aki Kaurismaki’s Fallen Leaves), mystery (Justine Triet’s Cannes-winner, Anatomy of a Fall) and a chance to watch Bradley Cooper’s magnificent Maestro on the big screen.

ARTS

Know Your Local: Extreme vocal coach

An East Asian woman with long dark hair with pink streaks holds a microphone and looks at the camera.

Kelsey Luo makes a living out of teaching people to growl, shriek, and snarl—safely.

*sponsored listing

MUSIC

Meet Vancouver’s new music task force

A white person with stubble, tattoos, and a bleached short fade looks to the left, with a red bass guitar slung across their lap.

Vancouver’s first music task force encompasses musicians, publicists, producers, administrators, and more—including plenty of faces familiar to Straight readers.

SPONSORED BY FAMILY SERVICES GREATER VANCOUVER

Give the gift of brighter tomorrows

Donating to a charity is a sure way to add some cheer to the holidays. This season, you can give the gift of brighter tomorrows when you donate to Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV). 24/7/365 FSGV is supporting families in need, homeless youth, and survivors of gender based violence.

FOOD & DRINK

A six-pack of wines to take the stress out of your Christmas dinner party

Six bottles of wine sit on a table in front of a dedecked Christmas tree.

Here’s half-a-dozen wines that will make the perfect accompaniment to any festive occasion.

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK

Diamond Cafe at Fox Cabaret | December 19 | 7pm 

Pop funk prodigy Diamond Cafe comes to town. [$25]

Winter Harp at BlueShore Performing Centre | December 19 | 7:30pm 

The festive group’s 30th anniversary tour brings the wintry sounds to North Vancouver. [$40]

Candlelight Jazz: Favourite Holiday Classics at Kerrisdale Presbyterian Church | December 19 and 20 | 6:30pm and 8:30pm

The Malcolm Aiken Quartet play familiar jazz hits, lit by—you guessed it—candlelight. [$58+]

Holiday Comedy Rumble: Every Elf for Themself at Evergreen Cultural Centre | December 19 to 21 | Various times 

It’s candy cane chaos and mistletoe mayhem in this fast-paced improv comedy spectacular. [$16+]

Free the Tipple book launch at The Polygon Gallery | December 21 | 6pm

Author Jennifer Croll will be on-hand to sign copies of her new book that compiles cocktails inspired by iconic women.

The Parlour Magic Holiday Show at the Show Cellar | December 21 | 7:30pm 

Rob Teszka hosts the annual holiday spectacular, with magic, juggling, mentalism, circus, and more. [$22+]

Want to know what else is happening in Vancouver? Check out our Events Listings.

That’s it!

Thanks for reading the Straight today!

If you found something useful, consider forwarding this newsletter to another Vancouverite.

And before you go, let us know:

What did you think of today's newsletter?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

• Did a friend share this with you? Sign up for free.

• Want to advertise to locals? Contact our team.

• Have a crazy or cool story to share? Drop us an email.