Hey there. Are you ready for the election gamut?

It feels like the elections are all we're talking about these days because, well, there are two of them. Advance voting for the provincial election begins on Friday (October 16), which means if you've left municipal participation until election day (October 17), you can double up on your civic duty. 

And if you've already cast your vote in your municipal election, then the hard part is over: the provincial polls just want one X from you.

— V.
Senior editor

Our editor in chief Nathan Caddell is a nerd about a lot of things: hockey stats, bike routes, local beers… and, more pertinently, municipal politics. Here, he lays out his prediction for who will win the mayor and city council seats in Vancouver's municipal election. Is he right? We'll know by the time our next newsletter goes out!

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Sign up today to help keep Vancouver weird.

Everyone knows the story: a vampiric count, a kidnapped young lady, and a brave hero to save the day. But this time around, the hero’s a coward, the lady yearns for adventure, and the count is… a cake-baking dreamboat? Whether you’re an eternal vampire-lover or a fresh fan of fangs, you can definitely count on a scarily fun time. Fresh off winning the Best Theatre Company in the Best of Vancouver Awards, Arts Club invites you to experience this spooktacular adaptation of a gothic classic, starting Oct 22!

Stake your seats now, from only $29* at artsclub.com

Starting October 22, Astra Lumina will have its Canadian debut in Stanley Park. That's all well and good and will no doubt be beautiful; but, as Vicki Duong muses, by renting out Vancouver's largest public space to for-profit events, what have we lost?

*sponsored listing

PHS delivers more than 3,900 nutritious meals daily from a kitchen designed for just 200 meals. To meet growing demand, PHS is raising $2.1 million for a dedicated production facility. Donate today and help ensure vulnerable community members continue to receive nutritious food, dignity, and support. 

For Dust, drag isn't just silly: it's also political. Their upcoming Parks and Rec-themed production hopes to galvanize Vancouverites into taking action. “It is about—sometimes—who you vote for, but it is actually more important that we just increase voter turnout,” says the co-founder and host of Sleepy Queers, which was recently named the Best Drag Show in the Best of Vancouver awards. “That's when change will happen. It's the complacency that's the problem.”

What do you get when two-dozen Vancouver venues spend 12 days hosting more than 120 musical acts? The result might look something like VanJazz, an ambitious city-wide celebration of everything that could loosely be described as "jazz". Get ready to get groovy.

LIVING: Hop onboard the 104-year-old Argonaut II on this rare tour. (October 15-17 @ Vancouver Maritime Museum)

LIVING: Vancouver Fall Home Show will kickstart your decorating dreams. (October 15-18 @ Vancouver Convention Centre West)

THEATRE: The Effect asks whether you can trust your brain chemistry. (October 15-25 @ Historic Theatre)

VISUAL ARTS: A View From Above celebrates the clear-eyed vision of late artist Preston Buffalo. (October 15 to December 11 @ SUM Gallery)

PERFORMING ARTS: Virago Nation, the award-winning Indigenous burlesque troupe, celebrates its 10-year anniversary. (October 16-17 @ York Theatre)

CULTURE: The Yupi! Latin American Arts Family Festival explores the vibrancy of the continent. (October 16-18 @ Presentation House Theatre, North Vancouver)

COMEDY: You have one night to find the killer in madcap whodunit Murder at the Museum. (October 17 @ Museum of Vancouver)

FILM: The Small File Media Festival knows cool things come in ultra-compressed packages. (October 17-18 @ The Cinematheque)

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

You made it all the way to the bottom, and we love you for it! Readers like you are what keep us going. If you want to support free arts and culture journalism, send this newsletter to a friend.

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