July 24 2025: There’s no clowning around in prison

Hey there. How has your week been?

It’s getting busy here at the Straight headquarters, as we’re putting together this year’s Best of Vancouver awards. The nominations will open on Monday, so consider this your advance warning to start thinking about your favourite local loves: from comedians and community centres to chiropractors and clothes shops.

Catch you on the flip side for some sweet democracy in action.

— V.
Associate Editor

— FEATURE — 

A Vancouver musician busted for drug smuggling recounts his Japanese prison experience

Dan Whitmore—better known in Vancouver’s heavy scene as Dan Scum or as the frontman of Iron Maiden tribute band Powerclown—got busted carrying 20 pounds of meth into Japan in 2017. After serving hard time in both Japanese and Canadian prisons, he’s ready to tell his story for the first time. “Every moment outside your cell is taken up with order, discipline, and rules, rules, rules,” he recalls. “It’s like being a cadet in the military.”

— LIVING —

Local influencer Lauren Sundstrom chooses softness

Vancouver-based content creator Lauren Sundstrom is dressing for nobody but herself. “I can’t turn off being trans,” she shares with the Straight. “And I don’t want to. But I do want to show that trans people deserve softness, safety, and love—not just tolerance, but joy.”

• PACE Society is closing its doors after 31 years

• The Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets will face off in a preseason game at Rogers Arena

• Six Vancouver’s Rise FC Academy players make Canada’s U-17 soccer team

• Discover the new Healing Caves™—a one-of-a-kind wellness experience blending traditional and modern spa therapies with immersive visuals, set within the oceanfront sanctuary of Kingfisher Pacific Resort & Spa on Vancouver Island.*

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— ARTS —

MOV joins global project to share climate survivor stories

A new initiative that will spotlight 1,000 stories of climate survivors around the world is kicking off—with the Museum of Vancouver as one of the project’s key partners.

• A new exhibition is diving into the North Shore’s transit history

• Was Emilia Bassano the "dark lady" of Shakespeare's sonnets? See their story unfold in The Dark Lady, running until September 19 at Bard on the Beach.*

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— PERKS OF THE WEEK —

This week’s perks for Straight Insiders:

Free tickets:

• Vancouver Canadians baseball tickets

Member raffles

• Win a $50 Gift Card for House of Dawn–Random Prize Draw

• Win a $50 gift card to Sequoia Group (The Teahouse, Seasons in the Park, Cardero’s, The Sandbar) and House of Dawn

• WINNER: Congratulations to Brian and Arik on being randomly selected for tickets to the Vancouver Folk Music Festival!

• WINNER: Congratulations to Pete on being randomly selected for tickets to Brewery & The Beast!

Food & drink deals

• NEW: Minami–10% discount on food during Happy Hour (3-5PM), from Sunday-Thursday

• Loam Bistro–10% off food & drinks

• Desi Indian Lounge–Free dessert

To unlock these perks, become a Straight Insider.

— MUSIC —

Pop Eye: Ozzy Osbourne was more than just a metal pioneer

Goodnight sweet Prince of Fucking Darkness, and may a flight of demons sing thee to thy rest.

• What’s In Your Fridge: Indie up-and-comer young friend on David Byrne and Diet Coke  

• Review: What’s more gripping, Katy Perry’s arena tour or The Amazing Race Canada?

• Chart-topping artist Andy Grammer takes the stage at Mission Hill July 31. Sing along to hits like “Honey, I’m Good” at the Okanagan’s most iconic summer event. Limited tickets remain.*

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— ICYMI —

• Dear the northeast corner of Kingsway and Fraser, I’ll miss you

• Map: Here are all of Vancouver’s neighbourhood book exchanges

• A Guinness World Record attempt is planned for Cypress Mountain

• Burnaby Roots and Blues Festival hits all the right notes

• The BC Dumpling Festival highlights diversity through food

— THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND —

MUSIC: Former She & Him member M. Ward makes beautiful alt-folk. (July 24 @ Rickshaw Theatre)

FOOD & DRINK: The agricultural Long Table Dinner returns to the beautiful outdoors. (July 24 @ UBC Farm)

VISUAL ARTS: Textile artist Corrina Hammond reworks offcuts in I’m Baby (a series of infinite limitations). 

FILM: Marlee Matlin’s deeply intimate Not Alone Anymore has its Canadian theatrical premiere. (July 25-31 @ VIFF Centre)

NIGHTLIFE: Rent Cheque holds its monthly body-positive amateur strip night. (July 25 @ Cobalt)

MUSIC: Mission Folk Music Festival gets you grooving, with headliners Empanades Ilegales. (July 25-27 @ Fraser River Heritage Park)

—

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

That’s it!

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