November 7 edition: WTF is Chip Wilson Day?

Hey there. It’s been a week, huh? 

Through good times and bad, the Straight marches on—bringing you stories from our community to keep us connected. And there’s a new print edition out today! 

Pick up a copy to find out more: about heartbreakingly beautiful portraits, strip club origin stories, or why we should ban encores. Not that I’m biased, but it’s a banger. I can’t wait for you to read it.

— V.
Associate Editor

— FEATURE — 

Ballet BC’s Dawn leaps into clouds, sexuality, and the unknown

After a successful tour out east, Ballet BC is kicking off its home season this week with Dawn. Three varied pieces see dancers take to the stage in daring, divine depth—including the premiere of Pierre Pontvianne’s Cloud Poem. “I find it very intellectual,” says dancer Sydney Tormey. “It’s almost like you’re morphing into how clouds change, or how they evolve without us even knowing that they’re evolving—all of a sudden things are different.”

SPONSORED BY EASTSIDE CULTURE CRAWL

Culture Crawl Preview Opens Today!

The Eastside Culture Crawl’s Preview Exhibition, “Green”, kicks off November 7th from 6-8pm with the opening of this multi-venue, salon-style curated exhibition at the Pendulum Gallery, the Cultch, Alternative Creations and Strange Fellows Brewing. This exhibit features 90+ Eastside artists and a variety of mediums include painting, drawing, photography, printmaking & sculpture.

Celebrate all things art, design & craft with the four-day open studio crawl through Vancouver’s Eastside Arts District November 14th-17th. 500+ artists, 50+ studios. Entirely FREE! Connect with creators in the community; bring home art & gifts; engage with artist demos and installations; and so much more.

Get planning your Culture Crawl visit by checking out the festival site’s Explore Art page or the festival’s digital & printed programs. Art Happens Here!

— CITY & CULTURE —

What do you mean Vancouver has a Chip Wilson Day?

While everyone was making fun of local supervillain Chip Wilson for claiming the BC NDP are communists, it turns out that City Hall was giving the billionaire his own special day.

• From Capital Daily: How BC will be impacted by a Trump presidency

• The chaos of driving in Vancouver, encapsulated in one hilarious photo

• Homes For The Holidays is Vancouver’s quintessential festive event! November 23-24, immerse yourself in a holiday wonderland, and support youth mental health. Get tickets.*

• Lax Kw'alaams Members, join us on November 9 & 10 at the Holiday Inn Express - Metrotown from 10am - 4pm. Prizes available!*

• Immerse yourself in Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week Nov 20-23! Unforgettable fashion, art, and live performances await at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Join us for the magic. Buy tickets!* 🔥

*sponsored listing

— ARTS —

Bear Grease reimagines a classic musical through an Indigenous lens

Los Angeles-based hip-hop duo LightningCloud has been touring its groundbreaking all-Indigenous adaptation of Grease for the past three years. “We created this show as a way to celebrate our identity,” co-creator Crystle Lightning tells us, “and have some fun with one of our favourite musicals.”

• Here are all the arts and city events happening in November

• Relationships wax and wane in Fortress

• Join Robin Hood on a merry mission to save East Van! Theatre Replacement’s East Van Panto takes the stage this Nov. 20–Jan. 05 at The Cultch.*

• Massey Theatre welcomes back Kid Koala for four fantastic events as part of their Performing Arts and Technology Festival. Watch, learn, play and discover with the legend himself.*

*sponsored listing

SPONSORED BY LAX KW’ALAAMS BAND

Lax Kw'alaams Reconciliation Engagement Session

This session is for Lax Kw’alaams members to come together and continue to discuss the draft constitution for Lax Kw’alaams.

Join us on November 9 & 10 at the Holiday Inn Express - Metrotown from 10am - 4pm. Prizes and honorariums available!

— FOOD & DRINK —

Here are all the winners of the 2024 Chinese Restaurant Awards

The 15th edition of the Chinese Restaurant Awards has announced its picks for the best Chinese and Taiwanese eateries in Vancouver. Check out all the winners here.

• A South Granville spot made it onto Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants list

• It does what it says on the jar: Picklefest is coming to Vancouver

• Join us on November 9 & 10 for our upcoming Reconciliation Engagement Session, Lax Kw'alaams Members. Prizes available!*

*sponsored listing

SPONSORED BY CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

Echo, the new spectacular!

ECHO follows a curious young woman named Future and her dog Ewai as they explore the symbiotic bond between humans and the animal kingdom. This stunning spectacle captivates audiences with breathtaking acrobatics and vibrant visuals, inviting them to celebrate the beauty of life and connection to nature.

— ICYMI —

• Review: Sabrina Carpenter was short, sweet, and sultry

• Things to bring you joy in a gloomy Vancouver fall

• Granville Island has foodie deals all month

• House of Dawn is bringing elevated Asian food to the ‘burbs 

— THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND —

BOOKS: Get your literary glad rags on for a bookshop party. (November 7 @ Upstart & Crow)

FILM: The 28th annual Vancouver Asian Film Festival breaks down barriers. (November 7 to 17 @ various locations)

THEATRE: Tom Crean: Discovering Antarctica highlights an unsung Irish explorer. (November 7 to 24 @ Pal Studio Theatre)

MUSIC: Suspiria composer Claudio Simonetti plays his soundtracks live with his band, Goblin. (November 8 @ Hollywood Theatre)

DANCE: Justine A. Chambers gives a performative lecture in The Brutal Joy. (November 9 @ 312 Main)

VISUAL ARTS: Emerging artists shortlisted for the Lind Prize are on display. (November 9 to February 2 @ Polygon Gallery, North Vancouver)

PERFORMING ARTS: Journey through the afterlife in the interactive show The Last Resort. (November 10 to 24 @ At the Waldorf)

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

That’s it!

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