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October 31 edition: Nothing’s scarier than billionaires

October 31 edition: Nothing’s scarier than billionaires

Plus: All the best local music you missed this month

October 31, 2024

Hey there. Happy Halloween!

We all know that the scariest things in the city aren’t ghosts or ghouls: it’s the more real-life threats, like getting doored by a Tesla on a cycle path, being demovicted for a condo nobody can afford, or accidentally meeting Ken Sim’s eyes at Khatsahlano.

East Van resident Laryssa Gervan’s annual satirical Halloween display is taking on billion-dollar bogeymen this year. From a Chip Wilson caricature to a graveyard of lost music venues, “Vancouver City Hell” is a pumpkin-fuelled reminder that our city is truly bananas. But we somehow still love it anyway.

— V.
Associate Editor

— FEATURE —

Commentary: BC’s provincial election was a political earthquake, and the aftershocks are still coming

Now the dust has settled, what can we say about the 2024 BC election? The once-laughable Conservatives made huge gains, while Eby just hung onto his premiership with the barest majority. Keith Baldrey analyzes what the next four years might look like with this unprecedented state of the legislature.

Kid Koala brings Nufonia Must Fall to Massey Theatre

Kid Koala is back at Massey Theatre with a live multi-disciplinary stage adaptation of his graphic novel Nufonia Must Fall.

A team of fifteen puppeteers, musicians, cinematographers and technicians bring the story to life at each performance. The stage is set up with over 20 miniature sets and 8 cameras. Under the direction of Oscar-nominated production designer K.K. Barrett (Her, Where the Wild Things Are, Adaptation, Being John Malkovich), each scene is performed, filmed and projected in real time onto a large screen above the stage. Kid Koala, accompanied by the Nufonia String Quartet, performs his original score on piano and turntable.

This is a dialogue-free, timeless love story that’s fun for the whole family.

— CITY & CULTURE —

First Person: I worked at Elections BC and it was a comedy of errors

Cassandra Freeman’s harried account of working for Elections BC this voting season will make you wonder how we manage to have any poll workers at all.

Gastown’s pedestrian pilot will return—sort of—next summer
Eastside Culture Crawl (Nov 14-17) is a once a year opportunity to immerse yourself in the local art scene, meet artists, and discover unique creations.*
Experience the hottest runway in town at Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week! Enjoy a blaze of creativity, culture, and style 🔥 Nov 20-23 | Queen Elizabeth Theatre.*

*sponsored listing

— ARTS —

Ritual-Spective–RE:turning remixes intergenerational art in real time

Sammy Chien’s latest show, created in concert with their dad as part of Heart of the City Festival, is all about connections. “The connections through generations,” they explain, “the history of the place, and the humanity of it.”

Blak pays musical tribute to Black Canadian women in history
Bound! The Musical reimagines a Shakespeare comedy with a pop-rock spin
The Improv Centre's Betrayers closes out a backstabbingly hilarious run of reality-TV inspired improv comedy this weekend – hot on the heels of their Ha-Ha-Halloween show tonight!*
Nov. 1 & 2 Dan Savage's HUMP! Film Festival | Nov. 3 comedian, Hassan Phills LIVE! | Nov. 5 USA Election Live with Charlie Demers. Get tickets here!*
Theatre Replacement’s EAST VAN PANTO returns for its 12th year with a merry take on ROBIN HOOD! On stage Nov. 20–Jan. 05 at The Cultch.*
Experience Indigenous and non-Indigenous superstars in circus, live music, drag, theatre, and more! Don’t miss TRANSFORM Festival, November 6 to 9 at the Playhouse.*

*sponsored listing

— MUSIC —

Van Jams: New Vancouver music from October 2024

From local legends like Movieland and Japandroids to upcoming musicians such as Bloom Effect and Fionn, there was plenty of new music this month to wrap your ears around.

Barney Bentall and the Cariboo Express bring their final tour to West Van

Savour Fall’s Finest at Cornucopia in Whistler

Indulge in a sensory feast at Whistler's premier event, Cornucopia. From November 7-17, enjoy over 70 tastings and events. Delight in live multi-course culinary demonstrations, spirited parties, seminars, tastings and winery dinners. Elevate your experience with lodging and ticket bundles starting at $95 pp/pn, plus enjoy a complimentary $100 Dining Voucher.

— FOOD & DRINK —

Two Thai faves go noodle-to-noodle in a delicious pad Thai battle

Sen Pad Thai and Longtail Kitchen square up for the return of the battle of the Pad Thai.

Eight events to check out at this year’s Whistler Cornucopia
Hopscotch Festival returns with whisky tasting booths and master classes

— ICYMI —

Afghan Horsemen Restaurant celebrates 50 years of warm welcomes
The 15th-annual Chinese Restaurant Awards reveal the top 30 finalists
An Endless Thread marks 40 years of Dorothy Grant’s groundbreaking Haida fashion
Three Vancouver performers are on the next season of Canada’s Drag Race
VanDusen’s Festival of Lights turns 40 this winter

— THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND —

COMEDY: Ha-Ha-Halloween promises a frightfully funny improv night. (October 31 @ The Improv Centre)

NIGHTLIFE: The Waldorf hosts a haunted masquerade party. (October 31 @ The Waldorf)

PERFORMING ARTS: The Beckett classic Waiting for Godot gets a one-night mount. (November 1 @ Orpheum Annex)

MUSIC: Porches plays synth-pop somewhere between mundanity and make-believe. (November 1 @ Hollywood Theatre)

PERFORMING ARTS: Chutzpah! Festival returns for another year of intriguing performances. (November 1 to 10 @ Norman Rothstein Theatre)

FOOD & DRINK: Fulfil your charcuterie desires at the Cheese and Meat Festival. (November 2 @ The Pipe Shop, North Vancouver)

VISUAL ARTS: Jeanette Jarville’s Infinite Possibilities revels in abstract expressionism. (November 2 to 22 @ Ian Tan Gallery)

DANCE: Moving suitcases capture homesickness in Camino y Despedida. (November 3 @ Scotiabank Dance Centre)

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

That’s it!

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