Hey there, hope you had a good weekend.

Mine consisted of going to an awesome show (So Faint at the Fox), hanging out with old friends, and having my five-year-old take photos of random people on the sidewalk with a camera that someone thought would be a nice gift for him.

That and the recorder he also recently received are having a very intense back-and-forth battle for the distinction of my least-favourite gift that he’s been given. I’m not sure what’s worse, having the recorder punish my ears repeatedly or trying to tell a five-year-old that taking photos of people trying to enjoy their coffee on patios outside of cafes is a little violating. 

I hope you enjoy this newsletter without a five-year-old trying to paparazzi you. 

— Nathan
Editor in Chief

With spooky season (not Halloween, the double elections) finally over, we decided to separate all the Vancouver municipal and B.C. provincial political parties into different tiers. The Things Couldn’t Be Better Tier features the Vancouver Greens, the BC Conservatives, and COPE, a group that probably wouldn’t be tied together for any other purpose. There’s also the Goodnight and Good Luck Tier, which is hopefully the last time we (or anyone else) will ever have to mention OneBC.

Our journalism is only possible because of Straight Insiders. 

In a time when technology is taking jobs, the Straight remains what it has always been: a small team of scrappy journalists, doing our best to cover the stories that matter to the city we all love.

For just $8.25 per month—the cost of one fancy latte—you can help support the 60-year legacy of the Georgia Straight. In exchange for your hard-earned money, we've got a huge range of deals, discounts, and free tickets up for grabs—but only for Insiders. 

Right now, that includes free tickets for the Arts Club’s Elf: The Musical and much more.

Sign up today to help keep Vancouver weird.

Created with express permission from Jordan River Anderson’s family, Jordan is a play depicting the Norway House Cree Nation boy as a superhero. In this original story, Jordan re-awakens in hospital and discovers newfound abilities to speak and move! Guided by his spirit bear companion, Maskwa, Jordan explores the impact he’s had on Indigenous communities.

The show highlights the impact of Jordan’s Principle, and the healthcare challenges still faced by Indigenous youth today. At the same time, Jordan represents strength and perseverance, and that is something everyone — no matter how old they are — can be inspired by.

For at least a year, senior editor Mike Usinger was telling me, “When PISS puts out an album, we put them on the cover.” Usinger had already covered the Vancouver punk rock darlings a few times, but he wasn’t fully satisfied. Then, as the album release date approached in late October, media outlets around the globe started frothing over the breakout Vancouver foursome that signed to iconic label Sub Pop. Mike insisted. “We’ll do it better,” he said. Well, the issue is out with PISS on the cover. And Usinger’s article is here. You tell me if you agree with him. I do.

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Emily Carr University of Art + Design's Student Art Sale returns November 26–28! Browse original works by more than 250 emerging artists and designers, including paintings, photography, prints, ceramics, housewares and textiles. Discover one-of-a-kind finds while directly supporting student creators. Admission is free.

Meghann Michalsky’s roots are in a world far removed from the dance stage, but looking back today the Alberta choreographer sees how her upbringing on a family-run farm shaped her as an artist. “What’s stuck with me is that I watched my family work their 9-to-5 job and then come home and work the farm,” Michalsky tells the Straight. Farm life would also give her an appreciation for getting away from the grind and roar of big cities, with that informing her latest work, Exile, which heads to Vancouver as part of the Chutzpah! Festival.

Following the massive viral success of "Mrs Magic," Strawberry Guy brings his new album, Give Me A Dream, to Vancouver. Catch his lush, piano-driven sound live at the Vogue Theatre on Dec 5, with support from Jean-Luc Eldenwood.

Grab your tickets today on Admitone.com.

After closing its original Commercial Drive location in July, the Mediterranean-inspired tapas bar Pax Romana reopened last week in a new home just steps away from where it first made its mark on Vancouver's dining scene.

TALKS: Douglas Coupland and Carol Lee, in conversation about how much they both love Chinatown. (November 10 @ Chinatown Storytelling Centre)

COMEDY: Penn & Teller perform some show-and-tell-er. (November 10 @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre)

THEATRE: Ins Choi’s Son of a Preacherman returns to the stage. (November 10-14 @ Revue Stage)

LIVING: Little Chamber Music performs "Remembered Aloud" in honour of Remembrance Day. (November 11 @ Mountain View Cemetery)

COMEDY: Ted Lasso’s Brett Goldstein breaks out of his Roy Kent persona. (November 11 @ Orpheum Theatre)

MUSIC: New York electronic duo Suzy Sheer tears up the club. (November 11 @ Fortune Sound Club)

THEATRE: Sigma Acapella dares to dream big. (November 12-22 @ Presentation House Theatre, North Vancouver)

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

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