October 22 edition: What it’s like to book an escort

Plus: Fluevogs, funk, and food as art.

October 22, 2024

Hey there. Welcome to the calm between the storms. We’ve survived an atmospheric river and an election—well, just about—so now we get to chill out. 

The election is over! Wait, what do you mean it’s going to take until next week to find out who won? 

And the rain is over! Except for, uh, all the rain forecast for the weekend. Sounds like a perfect week to stay home, to be honest.

— V.
Associate Editor

— FEATURE — 

Sex//Work: A client’s perspective on booking an escort

Lexci Lust wants to demystify the process of booking a sex worker. Here, she interviews a client to find out more about his experience—and to share tips for other people who are curious about the industry. “There’s a lot of cloak-and-dagger around booking an escort,” Xavier recalls. “I thought I’d have to book a multi-hour session and get everything perfect right away.”

— LIVING —

John Fluevog and Olivia Jean teamed up for a pair of “badass” boots

“These shoes are not for the weak,” says legendary local footwear designer John Fluevog. He’s talking about the new platforms he’s made with musician Olivia Jean. These boots are made for stomping.

  • Parade of Lost Souls has a new date and location

  • Granville Island’s Upstart & Crow is throwing a bookshop party

  • Supercross is this weekend! Get ready for one crazy night of adrenaline-fueled fun as WSX Championship comes to BC Place. Tickets still available.*

  • Come see some of Vancouver's best professional comedians and rising talent for stand-up comedy at Little Mountain Gallery in Gastown, Thursday at 9pm.*

  • This October 25 to 26, the Met will be transformed into a celebration of Diwali—the Festival of Lights—with colourful decorations, lively Bollywood dance lessons, and fun, interactive events all visitors can participate in. Read the full article here.*

    *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.

— ARTS —

Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue is a fresh take on the iconic sitcom

Fresh off a smash hit US tour, a new story set in 2024 is bringing the Golden Girls to the Vancouver Playhouse.

  • Vancouver Art Gallery’s Art Party returns next month

  • East Van Panto is set to tackle Robin Hood this holiday season

  • Trick or treat! The Improv Centre on Granville Island is celebrating this Halloween with Ha-Ha-Halloween - they'll be having a costume contest, spooky improv comedy, and more!*

  • A mix of circus, cabaret, and theatre, all with a Halloween twist, The Vampire Circus is a mysterious, tantalizing, fun, dark, and cutting-edge production guaranteed to amaze the senses!*

  • Eastside Culture Crawl festival’s preview exhibit, Green, opens Oct. 29 and runs to Nov 29 across 4 venues featuring artwork from over 90 participating artists!*

*sponsored listing

SPONSORED BY DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE HEART OF THE CITY FESTIVAL

21st Annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival: October 30 – November 10

Guided by the theme Threads of Connection, the 2024 Festival features 100 plus live and online events showcased at 40 plus local venues over twelve days - both indoors and out - including music, stories, poetry, theatre, ceremony, films, dance, readings, forums, workshops, discussions, gallery exhibits, art talks, history walks, and more.

— MUSIC —

Diamond Cafe is ushering in a new wave of old-school funk

Victoria-based musician Diamond Cafe knows funk is still cool. “When it’s on and it’s playing,” he explains, “people just can’t help themselves but groove.”

SPONSORED BY CHUTZPAH! FESTIVAL: THE LISA NEMETZ FESTIVAL OF INTERNATIONAL JEWISH PERFORMING ARTS

24th Annual Chutzpah! Festival

The 2024 Chutzpah! Festival opens next week (Nov 1-10) and includes concerts ranging from Klezmer to cabaret to roots music, innovative dance work, theatre, community-engaged storytelling, and hilarious comedy.   

In addition, there will be workshops, stimulating conversations, and opportunities to interact with creative artists.

— FOOD & DRINK —

Foodways uses familiar fare to explore big ideas

The Richmond Art Gallery is serving up something special: a food-themed show exploring our connection to what we eat. “Everybody is interested in food in some way,” says curator Zoё Chan. “It touches on everything.”

— ICYMI —

— THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK —

BOOKS: Bookworms, assemble for Vancouver Writers Fest. (To October 27 @ Granville Island Stages) 

STYLE: Alex in Wonderland marks 10 years of fashion designer Alex S. Yu. (October 22 @ Chinese Cultural Centre) 

MUSIC: Welsh pop punkers Neck Deep go for the jugular. (October 22 @ Vogue Theatre)

COMEDY: The American comedians behind Off Book: The Improvised Musical cross the border. (October 22 @ Rio Theatre)

VISUAL ARTS: PosAbilities hosts its 20th anniversary art show and sale. (October 23 @ Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre)

COMEDY: Toronto standup Jen Sakato promises to tickle your funny bone. (October 23 @ Chill x Studio)

WORKSHOP: Artist Rachael Ashe hosts a paper cutting masterclass. (October 23 and 24 @ Parker Street Studio)

DANCE: Prism fuses contemporary dance and hip-hop with a magical, mirrored twist. (October 23 to 27 @ Historic Theatre)

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

That’s it!

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