March 16, 2023 edition - Free St. Patrick’s Day party, anyone?

TOGETHER WITH

We know, we know, we’re doing an A+ amazing, top notch job here at the Straight. We’re humble enough to be able to admit it.

Buuuut we want to make sure that you agree about just how great of a job we’re doing providing the latest in, arts, music, news and all the rest, so we decided to put together an audience survey where you can lay the compliments on as thick as we’re laying on the “weak attempts at humour,” according to some previous, and not at all hurtful, bit of feedback we got last week.

…And where you can offer some constructive criticisms or whatever if there’s even a hint of a possibility that you think we could be doing something different. Or you want to see more of what we’re doing right. Or anything else, really.

Because this survey will actually help us determine what to cover and how to cover it, and it’s fine if what you want from us might not exactly line up with what we’ve been doing. We want to hear from you.

We’re not going to like, cry about it or anything. But we might.

Fill out our reader survey here.

You might've missed:

• Vancouver Folk Music Festival reportedly back on this summer for July 2023

• Drake is coming to Vancouver this summer with 21 Savage for It’s All a Blur Tour

• Bboyizm's In My Body defies the notion that street dance has to be a young person's game—it’s an ever-evolving journey

• Kimmortal and NADUH announce co-headlining show at the Biltmore Cabaret in April

• North Vancouver Recreation & Culture is seeking performing, visual, and multidisciplinary artists to be part of its 2023 events season. Apply by Mar. 31.*

*Sponsored Listing

FEATURE

Nominations are now open for the 26th annual Golden Plates awards

It’s Golden Plates season here at the Georgia Straight. 

Nominations for the 26th annual food and drink awards launched earlier this week, which means all the latest and greatest restaurants, breweries, food trucks, and more can earn the recognition they deserve in the form of a metaphorical gilded platter.

To nominate your favourite spots, click here.

The nomination period runs through March 24. On April 3, voting begins. Once all votes are in we’ll announce the winners of the 2023 Golden Plates Awards online and in our May 4 print edition.

TOGETHER WITH VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL 2023

Last week at 2023 VIDF

VIDF invites you to enter the world of Samsara from Mar. 22 to 25 at the Vancouver Playhouse.

Journey through the vast histories and cultures of China and India in this physical and spiritual dance performance. Created and performed by international artists Aakash Odedra (UK/India) and Hu Shenyuan (China); Samsara features the live music of composer and vocalist Nicki Wells (UK/Switzerland).

Experience a touching story of self-discovery and cultural exchange through this epic live performance of music and dance.

NEWS

“It’s heartbreaking”: The Beaumont Studios, facing closure, launches crowdfunding campaign

When glass artist Jude Kusnierz opened the Beaumont Studios in a black box theatre on the corner of 5th Avenue and Alberta Street in 2004, there was a clear view of the North Shore peaks.

She named the artist studio space Beaumont—French for “beautiful mountain”—in part because of the breathtaking vista.

Now, the Beaumont is facing closures as a result of increasing overhead costs, and is looking to a crowdfunding campaign to keep the studio spaces open for the nearly 100 artists who call it home.

ARTS

“Comedy is so stupid, it should be fun”: Sasha Mark on creating connections through comedy

Sasha Mark burst onto the Vancouver scene after selling out shows in his native Winnipeg, and they haven’t slowed down since.

Having gotten his start on APTM’s Indigenous news commentary The Laughing Drum, Mark set up his own comedy show, Sasha Ha Ha Show, which they now host monthly at Vancouver’s China Cloud Studios. They also teach a class for Blind Tiger Comedy, and have appeared on OutTV’s Killjoy Comedy and Storyhive’s YVR Funny!

Eleanor Tremeer has the feature story on Mark’s take on comedy as medicine, making comedy more accessible, and their ideas for what to do next.

Featured arts listings

• Last chance to see My Little Tomato, a surreal rom-com about love, farming, and dirty rotten tomatoes! On stage at The Cultch’s historic theatre until Mar. 19.*

• This week VIDF welcomes Japan's Taketeru Kudo and Nelson/Japan's Ichigo Ichieh. VIDF will offer pay-what-you-can tickets at the door on Mar. 16.*

• Laugh Track live professional standup comedy returns to downtown Vancouver with two shows, Mar. 18 and 25, featuring international headliners. Get your tickets now.*

• Our Ghosts: Western Gold Theatre’s production of Our Ghosts explores the mysterious disappearance of a Canadian Forces fighter jet and its pilot, and the ripple effect it had in the lives of a woman and her children. | Mar. 19 to Apr. 2 | From $25 | Firehall Arts Centre

• Driving Me Crazy: An honourable mention at the 2019 National Theatre B.C. Playwriting competition, Driving Me Crazy sticks you in a car with three generations of family members with very different views on vehicles—and life. | Mar. 20, 21 | $30 | Shadbolt Centre for the Arts

• Photography Exhibit: Sharai Mustatia will be opening their first ever solo gallery exhibition of analog photography at the B1 Gallery in the Beaumont Studios. | Mar. 23 to Apr. 13 | Free | B1 Gallery

• Reel 2 Real Film Festival for Youth runs Mar. 28-Apr. 6 at the VIFF Centre, Roundhouse Community Centre, and streaming online. Explore the festival program here.*

*Sponsored Listing

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL BURLESQUE FESTIVAL

The Vancouver International Burlesque Festival is happy to be returning Mar. 29-Apr. 2, 2023 to showcase a dazzling array of local and international burlesque talent.

Buy your tickets to see some of the best burlesque North America has to offer!

MUSIC

Music BC’s Let’s Hear It amplifies emerging artists and celebrates the creative hub that is Mount Pleasant

Showcases like Let’s Hear It are important for facilitating local musical discovery, Kentya Kurban, community engagement coordinator at Music BC, tells the Straight.

The event brings nearly 20 artists from across the province to stages at four different venues in Vancouver, including the Fox Cabaret, Anza Club, Cobalt, and La Fabrique St. George, on March 18.

Find the full lineup here. 

Featured music events

• The Residents: America’s weirdest band is coming to Vancouver on March 18, and their show will be kicked off with a documentary film about the band’s 50th anniversary tour. | 7pm | March 18 | $30 | Hollywood Theatre

• The Vancouver Rock Shop Presents Comfortably Numb: Canada's Pink Floyd Show: The cover band, which has been performing the music of Pink Floyd since 1993, will be performing over two nights at the Vogue Theatre. | Mar. 24 and 25 | From $49 | Vogue Theatre

• Say “bonjour” to Festival du Bois, Mar. 24-26 in Coquitlam’s Mackin Park. Come for great music and dance, shows for kids, and so much more!*

• Mama's Broke: Folk duo Mama’s Broke is bringing their multi-instrumental, uniquely gritty sound to Mel Lehan Hall at the end of the month. | 8pm | Mar. 28 | $30 | Mel Lehan Hall at St. James

*Sponsored Listing

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CELTICFEST VANCOUVER

Celebrate Paddy’s Day with CelticFest Vancouver! Join the festivities downtown Vancouver, Mar. 17-18, for western Canada’s biggest Irish celebration. Enjoy live music, performance, beer tents, food trucks, Irish dancing, a Celtic-themed market, Irish wolfhounds, the family zone, sports demonstrations, and more.

Learn more.

THE REST

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with comedy, burlesque, and a snake at What’s the Craic?

It’s pronounced craic like crack, not craic like rake; that’s according to Irish comedian Amy Walsh, who will be performing at the What’s the Craic? variety show this Thursday, March 16.

The variety show is part of CelticFest, which will feature a beer garden, food stalls, free activities, and two performance stages at šxʷƛ̓ ənəq Xwtl'e7énḵ Square from 4 to 9pm on Friday and from 10am to 9pm on Saturday.

Learn more about the St. Patrick’s Day festivities here.

The Rest of the events

• Pop Up: Improv Comedy: Catch an evening of long form improv comedy as Instant Theatre returns to the stage after a pandemic-caused break. | Mar. 17 | $25 | Conscious Lab

• Night Quest: Head into the trails of Pacific Spirit Regional Park and follow the glowing animal lanterns to find a cozy campfire. | 7 to 9:30pm | Mar. 17 and 18 | Free but registration required | Pacific Spirit Regional Park

• Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Catch Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh on the big screen for VIFF’s viewing of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon | To Mar. 18 | $15 | Vancity Theatre

• Join BC Cannabis Stores at their newest Langley store for their grand opening on Saturday, Mar. 18. Location details here.*

• It’s farmers market season in April! Riley Park, Trout Lake, and Hastings Park—Find your farmers market and plan the weekend with Vancouver Farmers Markets!*

*Sponsored Listing