January 2 edition: The hottest new wine pop-up in town

Plus: The best in local corner stores, celebs, and sourdough.

January 02, 2024

Hey there. Happy new year! We made it another cycle around the sun. 

It’s pretty rude to get thrown back into work straight after a break, even if it’s just a long weekend. Is anyone really operating at their full capacity on January 2? Well, hopefully emergency services. For the rest of us, let’s adjust to the new set of calendar digits gently. 

— V.
Associate Editor

FEATURE

Pretend Wine Bar is your new favourite watering hole

A glass of red wine sits on a round, dark wood table next to a stone-textured wall.

CITY & CULTURE

For people with autism, ICBC’s testing system is inequitable

A blue board with ICBC and its logo stamped on it in white.

ICBC’s written tests don’t measure how good you’d be at driving. They measure how good you are at taking a test—which, for people with autism, can be impacted by the high-stress environment.

*sponsored listing

SPONSORED BY ARTS CLUB

Kwaku Okyere in Choir Boy, 2022: set and costume design by Rachel Forbes; lighting design by Sophie Tang; photo by Dahlia Katz for Canadian Stage

Don’t miss Arts Club’s Choir Boy

Pharus is a senior at the Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys, and the proud leader of its legendary gospel choir. The prestigious school is committed to building “strong, ethical Black men,” but conforming to their traditions becomes harder as he learns to accept his identity as a young gay man. Weighing reconciliation and rebellion, Choir Boy, featuring gorgeously sung a cappella hymns, is a love letter from the Academy Award–winning screenwriter of Moonlight to the healing power of music.

Playing at Arts Club's Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage Jan 25–Feb 25, buy tickets online from $29!

ARTS

Choreographer Clara Furey’s hypnotizing Dog Rising comes to the Roundhouse

Three blurred figures against a black background move, lit in shades of blue and red.

Plastic Orchard Factory brings the Montreal-made show to town, for one night only.

LIVING

A guide to Vancouver’s most charming corner stores

The entrance to The Federal Store, with trailing plants above the open door. Inside are neatly curated shelves of pantry goods.

Corner stores have a special kind of magic—even better when they’re literally on your corner.

SPONSORED BY THEATRE LA SEIZIEME

Je suis William, an enlightened and playful exploration of feminist issues

Margaret Shakespeare secretly writes about the hardships she faces as a girl in sixteenth-century England. But how could she ever share her remarkable stories, in a society that only wants her silence?

Awarded author Rébecca Déraspe revisits Shakespeare's myth with humour aplenty.

FOOD & DRINK

Vancouver’s best sourdough bread

A close-up photo of slices of sourdogh bread, studded with dried fruit

Here’s half-a-dozen spots to get your naturally risen carb fix.

SPONSORED BY DAVE NICHOLSON

Independent Investment Advice - The way to your future

Free weekly email newsletter full of investment suggestions along with estate and retirement planning ideas published by Dave Nicholson. Regulated by CIRO and a member of CIPF.

"Solid work Dave! For anyone who doesn't know Dave is a honest guy. If you're anything like me you care about that" - Ben Sarma

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK

Bluey’s Big Play at Queen Elizabeth Theatre | January 2 and 3 | Various times 

The Emmy-award winning kids’ TV series comes to life with puppets for three shows at the Queen E. [$34.65 for four tickets]

Date Night at the Improv Centre | January 3 | 7:30pm 

A weekly improv show celebrating love, relationships, and everything funny about dating. [$25+]

Music Bingo at The American Bar | January 3 | 8pm 

The weekly Wednesday music bingo tasks stereoheads with identifying songs from snippets. [Free]

Dr. Kim TallBear: Beyond Diversity and Inclusion in the Academy at Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue | January 4 | 10am

SFU holds a talk on how truth and reconciliation can be applied in the academy, from the noted University of Alberta professor.  [Free] 

A double-showing of South Korean director Hong Sangsoo’s off-kilter in water and Portuguese creator Pedro Costa’s short The Daughters of Fire. [$14]   

Always… Patsy Cline at Metro Theatre | January 4 to 14 | 8pm 

Deep Cove’s First Impressions Theatre brings their production of the country star musical to South Van. [$25]

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

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