Things to Do in Vancouver this Weekend: March 23, 2017

It’s the first weekend of spring, and you can let the theme be life, renewal, and new beginnings – because that sounds like a pretty nice way to begin the next few days! Get in touch with your humanity and the world with films like Kedi and I am Not Your Negro, make new connections by trading art cards with friends and strangers, share time with your loved ones at Family Fuse at the Vancouver Art Gallery, and marvel at orchid blooms at the Van Dusen Garden. (Or – just go watch some creepy burlesque clowns. Choice is yours!)

Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Ongoing

Friday March 24

Vancouver Fashion Week
Where: Various locations
What: Fashion shows and events by designers from Vancouver and from around the world – closing parties and shows are on all weekend.
Runs until: Sunday March 26, 2017

The Daisy Theatre
Where: The Cultch Historic Theatre
What: Each performance will be different, daring, ridiculous, and on the edge of the hands of renowned puppeteer provocateur Ronnie Burkett and his resident company of over 40 marionettes. No two performances will be the same, making this a performance to see more than once.
Runs until: Sunday April 9, 2017

The Lost Fleet Exhibit
Where: Vancouver Maritime Museum
What: On December 7, 1941 the world was shocked when Japan bombed Pearl Harbour, launching the United States into the war. This action also resulted in the confiscation of nearly 1,200 Japanese-Canadian owned fishing boats by Canadian officials on the British Columbia coast, which were eventually sold off to canneries and other non-Japanese fishermen. The Lost Fleet looks at the world of the Japanese-Canadian fishermen in BC and how deep-seated racism played a major role in the seizure, and sale, of Japanese-Canadian property and the internment of an entire people.
Runs until: Winter 2017

Valley Song
Where: Pacific Theatre
What: Torn between the hope of the new South Africa and the familiarity of all he has known, Abraam “Buks” Jonkers tills land he will never own while his granddaughter dreams of the Johannesburg stage. A heartfelt story of tradition, change, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Runs until: Saturday April 8, 2017

Carded! A Trading Card Art Show
Where: Hot Art Wet City
What: A one-night only show of art reproduced on trading cards. The work of fifty artists is presented on trading cards and made available for art lovers to collect and trade. These 2.5″x3.5″ cards are displayed on the gallery wall and the audience is offered the opportunity to buy random cards in mixed packs of five for $5. If you purchase a pack that doesn’t have your desired card, get into some fast paced trading action with the people around you. How bad do you want that card?

Kedi
Where: VanCity Theatre
What: My favorite quote of the film is, “If you can’t love animals, then I think you can’t really love people either.” In Istanbul, Turkey, self-reliant cats have lived freely since before the Ottoman Empire. Yet, their existence is deeply intertwined with the lives of their human counterparts, who see themselves as guardians, rather than owners, of their four-legged friends. This movie is about cats but it is also about humanity, and understanding the world through new eyes.
Runs until: Thursday March 31, 2017

Playdome
Where: BC Place Stadium
What: An indoor carnival with over 45 rides and attractions, as well as carnival snacks and games.
Runs until: Sunday March 26, 2017

Vancouver Gem and Mineral Show
Where: Playland
What: Western Canada’s largest Gem show is featuring 80+ of the best gem, mineral and jewellery vendors from across Canada and abroad, bringing you unique gems, fine crystals, rare fossils, handmade jewellery, fancy beads and findings, lapidary art, lectures and demos, hourly door prizes and more.
Runs until: Sunday March 26, 2017

Angels in America
Where: Arts Club Theatre
What: A tale of companionship and abandonment that takes place when the personal became political. Set in New York City at the height of the Reagan era, Tony Kushner’s modern masterpiece contrasts the lives of five individuals struggling with identity issues alongside the crippling effects of stereotypes and an incurable diagnosis.
Runs until: Sunday April 23, 2017

Jon Kimura Parker plays Beethoven
Where: The Chan Centre
What: One of Vancouver’s favourite sons, internationally-renowned pianist Jon Kimura Parker returns home to perform Beethoven’s gorgeous Piano Concerto No. 1. Gifted young conductor Joshua Weilerstein leads a program that also includes Schumann’s beautiful, awe-inspiring Rhine Symphony, and Nielsen’s enchanting symphonic poem Pan and Syrinx.
Runs until: Saturday March 25, 2017

The Age of Electric
Where: The Commodore
What: In early 1998 Age of Electric played their last show supporting Our Lady Peace in Hamilton Ontario. No announcement or press release was ever issued about their dis-banding, they simply ceased to exist as the members pursued other interests.And now they’re back!

Once Upon a Time Convention
Where: The Westin Bayshore
What: A convention for all those who love the TV show, Once Upon a Time.

Voices from the Sacred Fire: Indigenous Land Defenders Speak
Where: SFU Vancouver, 6:30pm
What: Indigenous land defenders from frontline struggles speak on protecting lands and waters and asserting nationhood on their territories.

The Pull Festival
Where: Speakeasy Theatre
What: An annual play Festival featuring a repertoire of six or seven ten-minute plays. Pull seeks out original, un-produced plays from Vancouver based playwrights and along with its artistic team, produces, develops, dramaturges and supports the presentation of these new works.
Runs until: Saturday March 25, 2017

Back to the Nineties: A Fundraiser for Accessible Spaces
Where: HiVE
What: Get chillin’ maxin’ and relaxin’ at this 90’s themed games night (board games and an N64) with friends and Vancouver’s social impact community.

Author & Punisher
Where: The Astoria
What: Musician and artist Tristan Shone is a 1-person industrial doom band who uses machines that are custom-designed and hand-built by himself. This is a show where half the experience is watching him play his machines in-person and not to be missed by any fan of industrial music or machines that make noises.

East Side Flea
Where: 1024 Main St.
What: Over 50 local vendors, food trucks, a live deejay, artisan showrooms, seasonal drink specials, pinball and more.
Runs until: Sunday March 26, 2017

Saturday March 25

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Family FUSE Weekend
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery
What: Explore the galleries exhibitions through a diverse range of performances, in- gallery engagement, hands- on making activities and workshops with artists, dancers, musicians, performers and educators.
Runs until: Sunday March 26, 2017

Travis Wall’s Shaping Sound: After the Curtain
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
What: Through his Emmy Award winning work on So You Think You Can Dance, Travis Wall has established himself as one of America’s favorite choreographers. These visual musicians continue to dazzle audiences as they tell the story of a man fighting to find his creative voice after the death of his one true love. Get $15 off your ticket through Tickets Tonight with promo code TIXTON.

Culture Evening at The Fort
Where: Fort Langley
What: Adults only night! Live music, snacks, First Nations storytelling and drinks inside Vancouver’s real fort.

ArtStarts presents Rhymes, Reason and Rascals with Story Theatre Company
Where: ArtStarts Gallery
What: For the kids! Three knights use stories from many cultures to show a king what is truly valuable. Story Theatre Company’s new production is bursting with short stories, tales and poems full of remarkable wisdom.

Pyrrha Trunk Show
Where: Nordstrom
What: Nordstrom is showcasing the largest selection of Pyrrha jewelry ever available in Vancouver, and welcoming designers Danielle and Wade Papin for a special appearance. Handcrafted locally since 1995, Pyrrha talismans are created using authentic wax seals and imagery from the Victorian era.

Mother Mother (show 1 of 3)
Where: The Commodore Ballroom
What:Vancouver-based electro alt-rock with songs like Bit By Bit and Monkey Tree.

I Am Not Your Negro
Where: VanCity Theatre and The Rio Theatre
What: A journey into black history that connects the past of the Civil Rights movement to the present of #BlackLivesMatter. It is a film that questions black representation in Hollywood and beyond. And, ultimately, by confronting the deeper connections between the lives and assassination of these three leaders, Baldwin and Peck have produced a work that challenges the very definition of what America stands for.
Runs until: Friday March 31, 2017

Symphony: Idea of the North
Where: The Annex
What: Music that originated in rather cold climates – both Canadian and otherwise. Each of the pieces on this program is inspired by the cultural or geographical home of the composer.

Lisa Leblanc
Where: The Biltmore
What: Anyone who describes their music as “folk trash” seems pretty cool to me.

Orchid Society Show and Sale
Where: VanDusen Garden
What: Join the Vancouver Orchid Society for their spring sale.
Runs until: Sunday March 26, 2017

Marc Maron
Where: The Vogue
What: Maron is best known for his hit podcast WTF with Marc Maron, which continues to top the iTunes charts, averaging over 6 million downloads each month, with nearly 300 million total lifetime downloads. Following his historic interview with President Barack Obama last June, Marc has interviewed the likes of Lorne Michaels, Neil Young, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jeff Goldblum, and Keith Richards.

Marianne Nicolson: Artist Talk and Book Launch
Where: Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery, UBC
What: Nicolson will discuss her practice as it engages with Indigenous histories and politics, and relating oral traditions to methodologies of archival research.

We All Float Down Here: A Burlesque Tribute to Stephen King
Where: The Rio
What: Here’ is a burlesque, dance, and comedy show celebrating the oeuvre of Stephen King through a vaudeville lens, creating a world where the horror writer’s films collide in a Ziegfeld Follies-style explosion of glitter and showgirls.

Agnes Obel
Where: The Imperial
What: A Danish singer-songwriter with a classical approach.

Teenage Fanclub
Where: The Rickshaw
What: Rock music from Scotland.

Sunday March 26

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Jazz Vespers
Where: St. Andrew’s United Church
What: Darlene Ketchum (vocals), Kelvin Ketchum (piano), Gerry Teichrob (bass), and Tyler Friesen (drums) perform a selection of classic soul, R&B, gospel, and jazz tunes as well as some originals.

Closing Event for Judy Chartrand: What a Wonderful World
Where: Bill Reid Gallery
What: Join artist Judy Chartrand for her special closing program for her exhibition: What a Wonderful World. Visitors will gain admission to the gallery, a copy of the official exhibition catalogue, an exclusive curatorial tour, light refreshments, and a chance to interact with the artist. This is the last chance to see this beautiful and provocative exhibit.

The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
Where: Chan Centre
What: The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, clad in their iconic red and white robes, has become one of the world’s most recognized all-male choral ensembles. Every Christmas Eve, over 30 million people across the globe tune in to listen to the ensemble perform the legendary “Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols” service. This event has been broadcast by the BBC since 1928 and has helped to make the choir a household name all over the globe. As a result, the ensemble now regularly tours all over the world, selling out performances wherever they go.

Mother Mother (show 2 of 3)
Where: The Commodore Ballroom
What:Vancouver-based electro alt-rock with songs like Bit By Bit and Monkey Tree.

Kitty Nights: Nerdgasm
Where: The Biltmore
What: Burlesque for the nerdy.

Ongoing

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Vancouver International Dance Festival (ends this weekend)
Where: Various locations
What: A broad spectrum of dance presentation ranging from the slow introspection of butoh to the dynamic precision of ballet.
Runs until: Saturday March 25, 2017

Judy Chartrand, What a Wonderful World (ends this weekend)
Where: The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art
What: Her beautiful and provocative work presents her own personal history and insights into life in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, and commentary on racism and post–colonial relations between Indigenous and non–Indigenous cultures.
Runs until: Saturday March 25, 2016

Playdome (ends this weekend)
Where: BC Place Stadium
What: An indoor carnival with over 45 rides and attractions, as well as carnival snacks and games.
Runs until: Sunday March 26, 2017

Vancouver Gem and Mineral Show (this weekend only)
Where: Playland
What: Western Canada’s largest Gem show is featuring 80+ of the best gem, mineral and jewellery vendors from across Canada and abroad, bringing you unique gems, fine crystals, rare fossils, handmade jewellery, fancy beads and findings, lapidary art, lectures and demos, hourly door prizes and more.
Runs until: Sunday March 26, 2017

Family FUSE Weekend (this weekend only)
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery
What: Explore the galleries exhibitions through a diverse range of performances, in- gallery engagement, hands- on making activities and workshops with artists, dancers, musicians, performers and educators.
Runs until: Sunday March 26, 2017

East Side Flea (this weekend only)
Where: 1024 Main St.
What: Over 50 local vendors, food trucks, a live deejay, artisan showrooms, seasonal drink specials, pinball and more.
Runs until: Sunday March 26, 2017

Orchid Society Show and Sale (this weekend only)
Where: VanDusen Garden
What: Join the Vancouver Orchid Society for their spring sale.
Runs until: Sunday March 26, 2017

Vancouver Fashion Week (ends this weekend)
Where: Various locations
What: Fashion shows and events all week by designers from Vancouver and from around the world.
Runs until: Sunday March 26, 2017

Kedi
Where: VanCity Theatre
What: My favorite quote of the film is, “If you can’t love animals, then I think you can’t really love people either.” In Istanbul, Turkey, self-reliant cats have lived freely since before the Ottoman Empire. Yet, their existence is deeply intertwined with the lives of their human counterparts, who see themselves as guardians, rather than owners, of their four-legged friends. This movie is about cats but it is also about humanity, and understanding the world through new eyes.
Runs until: Thursday March 31, 2017

Kids Get in For Free
Where: VanDusen Botanical Garden and Bloedel Conservatory
What: Take advantage of up to two free child admissions with the purchase of a regular price adult, senior, or youth admission at VanDusen Garden or Bloedel Conservatory.
Runs until: Friday March 31, 2017

I Am Not Your Negro
Where: VanCity Theatre
What: A journey into black history that connects the past of the Civil Rights movement to the present of #BlackLivesMatter. It is a film that questions black representation in Hollywood and beyond. And, ultimately, by confronting the deeper connections between the lives and assassination of these three leaders, Baldwin and Peck have produced a work that challenges the very definition of what America stands for.
Runs until: Friday March 31, 2017

Valley Song
Where: Pacific Theatre
What: Torn between the hope of the new South Africa and the familiarity of all he has known, Abraam “Buks” Jonkers tills land he will never own while his granddaughter dreams of the Johannesburg stage. A heartfelt story of tradition, change, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Runs until: Saturday April 8, 2017

Layers of Influence
Where: UBC Museum of Anthropology
What: This stunning exhibition will explore clothing’s inherent evidence of human ingenuity, creativity and skill, drawing from MOA’s textile collection — the largest collection in Western Canada — to display a global range of materials, production techniques and adornments across different cultures and time frames.
Runs until: Sunday April 9, 2017

The Daisy Theatre
Where: The Cultch Historic Theatre
What: Each performance will be different, daring, ridiculous, and on the edge of the hands of renowned puppeteer provocateur Ronnie Burkett and his resident company of over 40 marionettes. No two performances will be the same, making this a performance to see more than once.
Runs until: Sunday April 9, 2017

Vancouver Special
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery
What: The first iteration of this series and it features works by 40 artists produced within the last five years—Vancouver’s post-Olympic period. The exhibition includes many emerging artists as well as those who are more established but whose ideas were prescient. Some are recent arrivals to Vancouver, while others are long-term residents who have already made significant contributions. Others are nomadic, less settled in one place and are working energetically between several locations.
Runs until: Monday April 17, 2016

Nat Bailey Stadium Winter Farmers Market
Where: Nat Bailey Stadium
What: Don’t fret the summers Farmers markets packing up – winter is here, and you can still shop local for fresh produce, preserves, baked goods, and crafts.
Runs until: Saturday April 22, 2017

Angels in America
Where: Arts Club Theatre
What: A tale of companionship and abandonment that takes place when the personal became political. Set in New York City at the height of the Reagan era, Tony Kushner’s modern masterpiece contrasts the lives of five individuals struggling with identity issues alongside the crippling effects of stereotypes and an incurable diagnosis.
Runs until: Sunday April 23, 2017

Hastings Park Farmers Market
Where: Hastings Park (near the PNE)
What: The Hastings Park Farmers Market features a great selection of local produce; nursery items, fish, meat & dairy; artisan prepared foods, baking and treats; local crafts, and of course, food trucks.
Runs until: Sunday April 30, 2017

Susan Point: Spindle Whorl
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery
What: Since the early 1980s, Susan Point has received wide acclaim for her remarkably accomplished oeuvre that forcefully asserts the vitality of Coast Salish culture, both past and present. She has produced an extensive body of prints and an expansive corpus of sculptural work in a wide variety of materials that includes glass, resin, concrete, steel, wood and paper.
Runs until: Sunday May 28, 2017

Pacific Crossings: Hong Kong Artists in Vancouver
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery
What: June 2017 marks the 20-year anniversary of the transfer of Hong Kong sovereignty from the United Kingdom to mainland China. In the lead up to the handover, tens of thousands of Hong Kong residents immigrated to Canada, many choosing to settle in Vancouver, and among them were a significant number of artists. Pacific Crossings presents works from well-known Hong Kong artists created after their relocation to Vancouver throughout the 1960-90s.
Runs until: May 28, 2017

Retainers of Anarchy
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery
What: A solo exhibition featuring new work from Howie Tsui that considers wuxia, a traditional form of martial arts literature, as a narrative tool for dissidence and resistance.
Runs until: May 28, 2017

The Lost Fleet Exhibit
Where: Vancouver Maritime Museum
What: On December 7, 1941 the world was shocked when Japan bombed Pearl Harbour, launching the United States into the war. This action also resulted in the confiscation of nearly 1,200 Japanese-Canadian owned fishing boats by Canadian officials on the British Columbia coast, which were eventually sold off to canneries and other non-Japanese fishermen. The Lost Fleet looks at the world of the Japanese-Canadian fishermen in BC and how deep-seated racism played a major role in the seizure, and sale, of Japanese-Canadian property and the internment of an entire people.
Runs until: Winter 2017

Amazonia: The Rights of Nature
Where: UBC Museum of Anthropology
What: MOA will showcase its Amazonian collections in a significant exploration of socially and environmentally-conscious notions intrinsic to indigenous South American cultures, which have recently become innovations in International Law. These are foundational to the notions of Rights of Nature, and they have been consolidating in the nine countries that share responsibilities over the Amazonian basin.
Runs until: January 28, 2018

What are you up to this weekend? Tell me and the rest of Vancouver in the comments below or tweet me directly at @lextacular