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December 5 edition: Vancouver’s “Top Chef Canada” champ

December 5 edition: Vancouver’s “Top Chef Canada” champ

Plus: Taylor Swift style and our all-local gift guide

December 05, 2024

Hey there. Are you ready for Swiftmageddon? (Swiftmania? Swiftaclysm? Taypocalypse?)

The Eras tour is hitting town this weekend, and even people who don’t really care about pop music’s biggest star are going to be affected. The area around BC Place is going to be strictly limited to ticket holders, while TransLink is doling out extra services to help an estimated 300,000 people get home after the shows—including a Rogers-sponsored late-night train.

Ever wanted to take the train to Mission at a time not strictly limited to commuting hours during the work week? Now is your chance. If only Rogers would fund the West Coast Express the rest of the year, too; we might finally have a functional suburban transit system.

In other news, we have a new print edition out today! It’s also about pop stars, albeit local ones.

— V.
Associate Editor

— FEATURE —

Your very Vancouver gift guide

Why shop big when you can shop small? Our local-to-Vancouver gift guide is full of potential presents for everyone on your list, from foodies and fashionistas to art mavens and adolescents—all from local brands, designers, and creatives. Check out everything here.

— LIVING —

This local author has a bestseller—all about Taylor Swift’s style

Sarah Chapelle’s Taylor Swift: Fashion Through the Eras is a full-length fashion analysis from the go-to Swift style writer.

All the Vancouver arts and city events to keep you entertained this month
Jerry Seinfeld was announced as a headliner for Just for Laughs Vancouver
Cirque du Soleil’s ice show Crystal is coming in June
Theatre Replacement's EAST VAN PANTO: ROBIN HOOD is "a rambunctious, rollicking good time...a cherished, made-in-East-Van tradition," writes critic Jo Ledingham. On stage until JAN 05.*
Merry/Happy/Jolly continues to delight audiences at The Improv Centre – proving that if improv isn't on your family's list of holiday traditions, you're doing it wrong.*
*sponsored listing

Echo, the new spectacular!

ECHO weaves a tale of evolution and the symbiotic relationships that sustain life, bringing fresh twists to its Big Top experience.

This spectacular performance blends poetry, stagecraft, daring acrobatics, and technology to explore the delicate balance between people, animals, and the environment.

The main female heroine, Future, and her companions discover how their choices can influence the world as they navigate the stages of evolution. Motivated by youthful optimism, they collaborate to shape the planet they aspire to inhabit. ECHO invites the audience into a vibrant world, showcasing creativity and the importance of empathy.

This captivating journey highlights the interconnectedness of all living beings and encourages viewers to reflect on their impact on the planet. Catch ECHO at Concord Pacific Place starting October 9th!

— MUSIC —

Ronfest is raising money for scene legend Ron Reyes

Ron Reyes—of Black Flag, Kill City, and Piggy fame—is navigating a family health emergency, and the city’s music scene is coming to his aid.

Here are the coolest Vancouver concerts to catch this December
Road to the Junos will feature BC talent ahead of the awards show
An upcoming chamber concert highlights music from across Africa

Je viendrai moins souvent conveys an admirably honest reflection on memory, lineage, aging and illness

As Camille, 22, moves to Montreal, her 92-year-old grandmother Pauline is moved to a long-term care facility. Encountering Pauline’s decline and her unraveling memories, Camille decides to collect her grandmother’s words, allowing her to tell her story before she can no longer do so.
December 11 — 14 @ Studio 16.

— FOOD —

Vancouver chef Chanthy Yen breaks barriers with his Top Chef Canada win

Chanthy Yen’s victory marks a triumph for queer and Southeast Asian chefs. “There’s this curse of Vancouver chefs coming in second place,” he tells us. “I’m really happy to be that person to break it.”

Don’t want to cook a holiday meal? Dine at one of these local restaurants instead
Or, get takeout meals from these eateries and caterers
North Vancouver Recreation & Culture is seeking performing, visual & multidisciplinary artists to be part of its 2025 events season. Apply by January 6, 2025.*

*sponsored listing

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— ICYMI —

Sex//Work: The hilarious story of how Madelyn Summers became a stripper
You might still be able to win Eras Tour tickets
Why Nayarit might be the winter vacation you’re craving
Where to get your holiday sweet treats in Vancouver
Vancouver’s most festive restaurants and bars

— THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND —

THEATRE: Rat Academy imagines a rich rodent ecosystem. (December 5 to 7 @ secret East Vancouver location)

MUSIC: CBC Music host Laila Biali swings by on a wintery holiday music tour. (December 5 @ BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts, North Vancouver)

THEATRE: If there were multiple Michael Bublés, you might end up with something like The Gingerbread Men: A(nother) Holiday Cabaret. (December 5 to 22 @ Newmont Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre)

LIVING: Fleurs de Villes unleashes festive blooms upon the city. (December 6 to 15 @ downtown Vancouver)

DANCE: Constellations showcases ensemble works from the All Bodies Dance Project. (December 6 to 7 @ Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre)

VISUAL ARTS: Check out the best art you can fit onto a Post-It in the Sticky Show. (December 6 to 7 @ Gallery 881)

FILM: The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra accompanies a winter movie classic: The Snowman. (December 8 @ Orpheum Theatre)

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

That’s it!

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