The main objective of this website is to scout out and promote the things that make Vancouver such a sweet place to be. We do this with an emphasis on the city’s independent spirit to foster a sense of connectedness within and between our communities, and to introduce our readers to the people who grow and cook our food, play the raddest tunes in our better venues, create our most interesting art, and design everything from what we wear to the spaces we inhabit. This is our carefully considered first rate list of super awesome things that we’re either doing, wishing that we could do, or conspiring to do this week. From our calendar to yours…

FOOD

Terra Madre Day goes down at the Italian Cultural Centre this weekend. It’s all about the importance of eating locally and raising awareness about the importance of creating better food systems. Read the Terra Madre vision here. It’s quite inspiring. But back to the point: Terra Madre Day. It’s actually Terra Madre Night here,  an evening of local food prepared by local chefs from joints like Aphrodite Cafe, Bishop’s, Savoury City, Schokolade Cafe, West and YEW. Fine local beverages will be had from Black Cloud Wine, Chandra Wine, Crannog Ale, Dao Tea, Farmstead Wines, Forbidden Fruit Wines, Fort Wine Co, Lake Breeze Winery, R & B Brewery and Schramm Vodka. It’s also a Community Supported Agriculture Fair, and there’s a bread breaking ceremony to boot. Slow Food Vancouver is putting it on in order to raise money to send delegates to Italy to share and learn from others from all over the world.
Friday, December 10 |  6:30-9:30pm  | Italian Cultural Centre (3075 Slocan) | Admission is by donation on a sliding scale recommended $5 to $20.

Vikram Vij will be hanging out at Chapters on Saturday afternoon signing your freshly purchased copies of his new book Vijs At Home. We have an unsigned copy and it’s still a goodie, but seeing Vikram is gooder.
December 11 | 12 pm | Chapters Granville (2505 Granville)

A trip to the Baker’s Market can solve a lot of problems at this time of year. Hook yourself up with ready-to-be-gifted artisanal breads, scones, pain au chocolat, German pretzels, shortbread cookies, Parisian macarons, madeleines, cupcakes, marshmallows, chocolates, biscotti and seasonal stuff like German stollen, Christmas shortbread cookies, hand decorated sugar cookies, Christmas fruit cake, gingerbread cookies, gingerbread houses, mince meat pies, butter tarts, pecan pies and much, much more (including gluten free and vegan action). Take your own containers and bags. Find out more here.
Saturday, December 11 | 11 am – 3pm | Creekside Community Centre (Olympic Village)

The Holiday Farmers Market is on this weekend. Over 90 vendors bringing their best and finest selection of food, art, craft and home accessories for your gift-giving pleasure. Details.
Saturday, December 11 | 10 – 5 pm | Croatian Community Centre (3250 Commercial) | $2

BUY LOCAL

Hooray for the Gypsy Market! Hands-down the coolest consumer-centric event in the city this weekend. From the Biltmore: “No longer need you grope in darkness or stumble in blind confusion,starved for something more…Roll out of your warm bed, leave your earthly routines behind and satiate that hunger with MAGIC.Feel your pulse quicken,your heart beat faster as you lay your eyes on the awaiting TREASURE at the Gypsy Market!”
Not only will this be a spectacular vintage sale (clothing, shoes, accessories, art, jewellery, designer, crafts, winter goods) but they will also have the four B’s on board: bands, booze, budgies burritos.
Sunday, December 12 | 10am to 5pm | The marvelous Biltmore Cabaret | $2

One of a Kind takes over the New Vancouver Convention Centre this weekend. Contemporary crafts galore, and when I say ‘galore’, I mean the ‘One of a Kind’ handmade items from over 250 exhibitors kind of ‘galore’. Get the full list of who will be there by clicking here.
Runs daily until Sunday, December 12 |  10am  to 9pm Thurs, Friday, Saturday | 10am – 5pm Sunday | The New Vancouver Convention Centre, Exhibition Level, Hall A |  $10

If you’re looking for a unique gift for the fusspot on your list, consider swinging by Lindsay Brown’s beautiful Strathcona church/studio to check out her own Ouno designs (home accessories and bags from vintage and sustainable materials) or browse fashions from Hunt & Gather (have a look at what Natalie Purschwitz has been up to here). Santa wants you to buy local this Christmas!
Saturday, December 11 | 636 Keefer | noon till 5pm

THINK

Explore the wonders of increased density with a tour of the cities newest Laneway houses this weekend. Vancouver Heritage Foundation has pulled together a great tour. Teams will be on site to discuss the projects, unique Christmas  lights installations will be there to amaze and dazzle, and hot chocolate will power you from site to site. They have us totally figured out. Full scoop here.
Saturday, December 11 | 1 pm – 5 pm |  $50

Learn how to increase your home’s energy efficiency, reduce energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions and keep yourself extra cozy durning the long wet winter. Participants will finally uncover the mysteries of why houses leak air and will be armed with information to help them ensure they get the correct amount of ventilation while reducing heat loss. www.spec.bc.ca/events?
Saturday December 11  | 10:30 am – 12 pm | SPEC – 2150 Maple | By donation

Get your nerd on this Sunday at the UBC Physics and Astronomy Faraday Science Show. This year’s theme is ‘light and colour’.
Sunday, December 12 | 2:00PM – 3:30PM | Details

Plants Inspiring Technology | UBC Botanical Garden’s education theme for December is biodiversity inspirations – head out the UBC to catch a lunch-time lecture about about how plants have inspired and contributed to advances in the world of technology.
Monday December 13 | 12 pm | UBC Botanical Garden (6804 SW Marine) | $5 | Details

ART

Vancouver-based artist Marian Penner Bancroft and Grant Arnold (Audain Curator of British Columbian Art) lead a conversation about what it means to convey a sense of place through landscape photography – focused on the Robert Adams show currently exhibiting at the VAG. Dig it.
Saturday, December 11 |  2pm | VAG | Free with Gallery admission ($19.50)

Ayden Gallery once again gives us a reason to venture into the strange and confusing world known as Tinseltown. They have a new show opening Friday: new works by Camilla d’Errico’s. Get a sense of what to expect here.
Friday, December 10 | 7-11pm | Ayden Gallery

The Dynamo Arts Association is putting on a show and talk with photographer Daphne Chan and multidisciplinary artist Britta Fluevog. Have a wander through the exhibition, hang around for the chitchat and engage in the discussion of the work. Find out more…
Thursday, December 9 | Opening at 8pm, Artist talk at 9 | Dynamo Arts Association (142 W Hastings)

The ‘Winter Salon’ Exhibition opens at PhotoHaus this week. Organisers have changed things up a little this time around. Not only will they exhibit remarkable photography, but they will also SELL it to you at unbeatable prices. from photohaus: “This year, give the gift of photography to your family, loved ones, friends and/or to yourself.’Winter Salon’. All work available at $200 or less.” Deal.
Friday, December 10 | 7 pm | PhotoHaus Gallery (14 W 7) | Free to admire

MOVIES

Edward Scissorhands plays the Rio. If you’re having trouble recalling the plot, it’s about a “small suburban town that receives a visit from a castaway unfinished science experiment named Edward. A satire on the normality of Middle-America and their fear of outsiders. A magical fairytale story of loneliness, learning, and love; that will make you laugh, curse, and cry.” Full story here.
Friday December 10 | 11:55pm | Rio Theatre | $10

A double feature of The Town and Dinner for Schmucks hits the Hollywood.
December 10-14 | 7:30 /9:40 nightly | Hollywood Theatre | Double features for $8!!

Canadian flick Trigger is playing at the Vancity Theatre. “It’s ten years since 90s riot grrrl rock band Trigger called it quits. Reunited for a tribute show, guitaris Vic (Wright) and singer Kat (Parker) meet up to make up – but over the course of an evening of shared memories and music old antagonisms keep flaring. Rushed into production after Tracy Wright was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (tragically she passed away in June), Trigger is a true labour of love, a communal effort from the best and brightest in Toronto’s film scene. Look for cameos from Wright’s partner Don McKellar, Sarah Polley, and Callum Keith Rennie, but this is really a two-hander at heart, exquisitely performed by Wright and Parker. The music is by Broken Social Scene’s Brendan Canning. ”
December 10 – 16 | Various times | Vancity Theatre | $11

MUSIC

Get ready for a kick-ass piano recital! Cruise over to the Rio Theatre next Thursday for a showcase of local artists performing solo on a baby grand. Featuring none other than locals C.R. Avery, Adaline, Edo Van Breemen (of Brasstronaut), Hilary Grist, Christopher Arruda and Monica Lee. Whenever C.R. Avery is involved, tickets sell out – so get them while you can. Try here.
Thursday, December 16 | Doors 7:30 Show @ 8pm |  Rio | $15

The Posies play the Venue on Friday night. From their Myspace page:  “The Seattle-rooted outfit, led by musical polymaths Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow, have shaped and re-shaped their muse, creating one of the more compelling catalogues in modern pop”. Have a listen.
Friday, December 10 | 8 pm | The Venue (881 Granville) | $30?

Bison BC have a gig at the Biltmore. Everyone loves a night at the Biltmore. Plus everybody loves Bison.
Friday, December 10 | 9 pm | The Biltmore | $15

HOLIDAY CHEER

The Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden is rad, and we’re not just saying that because they’re advertisers (we go every year and it kicks ass). Mark your calendars for next week when you can grab a fresh-made sweet or savory waffles and an apple cider or some Thomas Haas hot chocolate and take an invigorating walk through a 15 acre garden festively lit by more than a million dazzling lights. The only thing that beats it is watching It’s A Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve. More details here.
Friday, Dec 10 – Sunday, Jan 2 | 4:30pm – 9pm | VanDusen Botanical Garden (5251 Oak)

Get yourself into the holiday spirit by grabbing a hot chocolate and a bag of freshly roasted chestnuts and taking a ride on the Stanley Park Christmas train. Cuddle up with a loved one as the tiny train chugs its way through a heavily decked out forest while Christmas carols are cranked through speakers dotting the surrounds. Afterward, walk over to the farmyard to savour the smell of a manger from way back when (the kids love the bunny rabbits too). It is recommended that you buy tickets in advance. More here.
Today – Jan 2 | 3:00 – 10:00 pm | Stanley Park |Train: $9 Adults / $6 Kids

AHEAD

Winterharp slides in to St.Andrew’s next week. You’ll want to start figuring out tickets now. Try Zulu. They do sell out, and for good reason.
Saturday, December 18 | 7:30 pm | St. Andrews | More info

Kid Koala has a few nights booked at the Biltmore coming up next week. Hanging out in a cushy red velvet booth for a little bit of Kid Koala on a cold winter night doesn’t sound too bad. Check out the Bilmore for details.

And then there is this: Save the UVic Bunnies! Not only are the docks out at Steveston a lovely place to wander with a hot chocolate in hand, but this weekend you can make a detour in to town for a ‘bunny bake sale’: “Treat your bunny to an health check-up and nail clip treatment with donations to the UVic/Precious Life rabbit rescue courtesy of the clinic’s owner, Dr. Joseph Martinez. There will also be baked goods (for humans and rabbits alike!), cards, artwork, and other items available for sale or by donation.” If you’ve ever met a bunny at Uvic, but if you’ve been there at all you probably have. They’re everywhere. Anyway, they are a pretty nice lot…keep to themselves and screw a lot. Anyway, more info at http://www.uvicrabbitrescue.com
Sunday, December 12 | All day | Little Paws Animal Clinic (130-12011 2nd Ave, Steveston) | Free and good bunny karma.

——————————————————————————————–

Michelle Sproule grew up in Kitsilano and attended Bond University in Australia and the University of Victoria before receiving her graduate degree in Library Sciences from The University of Toronto. She lives in beautiful Strathcona and enjoys wandering aimlessly through the city’s shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera.

——————————————————————————————–