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…

ART

Eastside Culture Crawl! 371 artist studios in 3 days is a huge undertaking. November 26, 27, 28. A game plan is required, and here is mine.

Maybe it’s the Librarian in me but I love the sound of the “Index” exhibit down at Emily Carr. The exhibition focuses on the work of artists who have developed practises (or produced individual works) based on the activity of indexing. “Index focuses on works that represent this impulse to catalogue elements of life which, although bearing resemblance to one another in some fashion, do not easily fit into accepted methods of categorization.” It might make me feel like a bit of a nerd, but I really can’t wait to see this show. Look for an Items Found in my Purse post in the near future.
Until Sunday, November 28 | 10 am 5:00pm | ECUAD | Free

Family FUSE Weekend explores ‘The Everyday’ at VAG. “What does the everyday mean to you? From a sense of time and ordinary daily rituals to the comfort of familiar objects, this Family FUSE Weekend will explore the little and big things that are part of our everyday experiences. Find out more here.
Saturday–Sunday, November 27–28 | 10am–5pm | VAG | $20

I like the look of Wolpertinger and Other Creatures, works by Anne Siemsat is showing at the Jacana Gallery on South Granville. It’s on until December 5

PhotoHaus Gallery has a cool sounding show going on; an exhibit of Contemporary Polariods. It’s called “In An Instant”. Find out more here.
December 2 to December 5 | PhotoHaus Gallery

FILM

Well, to begin with,  Harry Potter is still everywhere, so there’s that and…

The good old UBC Film Society will be showing “A Woman, A Gun and a Noodle Shop”, a remake of “Blood Simple” by director Zhang Yimou. It’s the story of a man (the owner of a Chinese noodle shop) and his scheme to murder his adulterous wife and her lover goes awry. From Rottentomatoes.com: “Wang is a miserable yet cunning noodle shop owner in a desert town in China. Feeling neglected, Wang’s wife secretly goes out with Li, one of his employees. A timid man, Li reluctantly keeps the gun the landlady bought for killing her husband later. However, not a single move they make escapes the boss’s notice, and he decides to bribe patrol officer Zhang to kill the illicit couple. It looks like a perfect plan: the affair will come to a cruel but satisfying end, or so he thinks, but the equally wicked Zhang has an agenda of his own that will lead to even more violence.” More here.
November 26, 27, 28 |7:00pm | Norm Theatre, UBC SUB |$5

“Chinatown” plays at the Rio Theatre. Directed by Roman Polanski and starring Jack Nicholson. How much more info do you really need on this one? See you there.
November 26 | 11:55 pm | Rio Theatre | $12

Skateboarding flick (by Hunter Wood)  Film Fatties 2 has it’s Vancouver premiere this weekend and word is that if you hold on to your ticket stub you can score a discounted cover for the afterparty at The Waldorf. Find out more about the film here.
Saturday, November 27 | 8 pm | Granville 7 Cinemas (855 Granville) | $7 (Antisocial – 2337 Main)

“Inception” (7:30pm) and “Life As We Know It” (10:00pm) tag team at the Hollywood Theatre on Broadway.
November 26 – December 1 | Hollywood Theatre | Double features for $8 ($7 wkd matinees, $6 Mon)

The “Coca-Cola Case” is screening at VPL on Tuesday night. You’ll never look at a can of Coke the same way after seeing this documentary. Directors German Gutierrez and Carmen Garcia present a searing indictment of the red and white empire. Check out the Coca-Cola Case website here. Best of all, it’s free.
Tuesday November 30 | 7:00 pm | VPL Main Branch | Free

COMMUNITY

The University of British Columbia’s Public Hearing Committee will hold a Public Hearing respecting proposed amendments to the Land Use Plan for UBC’s Vancouver Campus. Of particular interest: Retention of the UBC Farm by changing the land use designation for the UBC Farm from “Future Housing Reserve” to “Green Academic”. Get all the details here.
Tuesday, November 30 | 6 pm | Ponderosa Centre, 2071 West Mall | Free and important!

World Aids Day is on December 1.

TALKS AND LECTURES

Farah Nosh, an award-winning photographer based in Vancouver, will be talking about her work at Emily Carr University of Art + Design on Monday. Farah has worked in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria, and Egypt and likely has a few interesting stories to share. Find out all about it over here.
Monday, November 29 |  9:30am – 11:30am | ECUAD | Free

Birds Of A Feather | Naturalist and expert bird watcher Cathy Aitchison is getting bundled up on Sunday to take nature enthusiasts for a guided walk of Stanley Park to explore the varied and beautiful bird life.
Sunday, November 28 | 9-11 am | Stanley Park Admission by donation

Vancouver Beyond Peak Oil: Community Post-Carbon Visioning | “How will our community be affected by peak oil, climate change, and economic instability over the next five, ten, twenty years? As we live through these times of great global change, what do we want our city to look like when we come out the other side? What do we need to do right now to make sure we get the future we want? And most importantly, how can we come together to do it effectively and have fun doing it? Join Permaculture designer Erin Innes and Village Vancouver for a free afternoon of inspiration and action on the greatest challenges of our time.” To register: Strathcona Community Centre 604.713.1838 (course no. 46500.402ST). Details here.
Sunday November 28 | 1:00-5:00 pm | Strathcona Community Centre | Free

LITERARY

There is a Vogon Poetry Slam and “Vog-Off” at the main branch of Vancouver Public Library this weekend. What, you ask, is a Vog Off? I haven’t the slightest idea. Here’s what VPL has to say about it: “Come to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe for our first-ever Vogon Poetry Competition. Ten of the universe’s worst poems will be presented slam style for your pleasure (or not). Cheer on your favourite Vancouver Vogon and you may win a prize!” This is a CBC One Book, One Vancouver event.
Monday, November 29 | 7:00 pm | VPL Main Branch | Free

MUSIC

Jason Collett plays the Biltmore on Friday night. Details.
Friday, November 26 | 8 pm | Biltmore Cabaret | $14

“Poet, chanteuse and post-cabaret icon Elizabeth Fischer brings DarkBlueWorld, her band featuring its intense and uncompromising musical vision to the new music venue at Vancouver’s historic watering hole, The Waldorf. Need a little more to go on? “According to Canada’s Jazz Magazine Coda, DarkBlueWorld is “an unholy union of Nina Hagen and Jim Morrison channeling Bertolt Brecht and Rimbaud with a band made up of members of The Doors, The Velvet Underground and Pink Floyd…” Seems like this may be part of a larger event (Facebook event page here).
Saturday, November 27 | 8:30pm – 11:00pm | $no idea

Bad news: That Black Mountain and Black Angels gig at the Commodore on November 30 is sold out. Good news: A second show has been added. Get your December 1st tickets NOW (try Zulu).
Wednesday, December 1 | 8 pm | Commodore Ballroom | $30

Vicky Chow does Music on Main: “Vancouver-raised, New York-based pianist Vicky Chow has emerged as a leading musician.  She’s the pianist with the legendary Bang on a Can All-Stars, and her performances have been called “brilliant” by the New York Times.  After performances across North America, Europe and Asia, she makes a homecoming solo concert for Music on Main, including the world premiere of a new work by Eliot Britton, and Canadian premieres by Ryan Anthony Francis, Daniel Wohl, Andy Akiho, Evan Ziporyn, and Jakub Ciupinski.” More from Music on Main here.
Tuesday, November 30 | Doors 6:30 Music around 8pm | Heritage Hall (Main Street @ 15th) | $20

Portland’s kickass alt-folk band The Horse Feathers Play the Media Club.
Wednesday, December 1 | 8pm | Media Club | $14

BUY LOCAL

The Urban Artisans Craft Fair goes down at the Roundhouse Community Centre. This fair boasts 60 jury-selected local artisans.
November 27–28 | 10am – 5pm

Women’s Winter Faire (Yes, that’s Faire with an ‘e’) takes over the Heritage Hall and showcases handmade works by local female artisans, artists and craftswomen.
November 27–28 | 11am–6pm | Heritage Hall, 3102 Main

Blim Monthly Community Market | Blim always brings together a solid line-up of local, hip and handmade. Over 60 vendors selling crafts, food, fashion, accessories, art, vintage records. There will be music and entertainment as well.
Sunday, November 28 | 11am –4pm | Chinese Cultural Centre, 50 Pender St E

Got Craft? goes down next Sunday! More than 50 local artists showcase their individual styles in an incredible array of handmade wonders. Stationery, skincare products, kitchen goods, cuddly toys, fashion accessories, jewelry, coffee sleeves, ceramics…you name it. There’s also a DIY table for those gifted with nimble fingers. Be one of the first 45 people through the door and score one of Got Craft’s famous free swag bags of goodies, which include handmade items from vendors at the show.
Sunday, December 5, 2010 | 10am –5pm | Royal Canadian Legion (2205 Commercial) | $2

FOOD

If you’re in the restaurant business, The Money Shot game goes down on Monday, November 29th at The Diamond in Gastown. Check it out!

I don’t know where to put this event, food or film? It’s both! Breakfast and film screening of “Ingredients”. Seriously compelling flick – watch trailer here.  Full of good advice, like  “You shouldn’t be buying garlic shipped in the holds of ships from thousands of miles away between sex toys and flip flops” Truer words were never spoken! From Project Change: “[North] American food is in a state of crisis. Health, food costs and our environment are all in jeopardy. A movement to put good food back on the table is emerging. What began 30 years ago with chefs demanding better flavor, has inspired consumers to seek relationships with nearby farmers. This is local food.” Find out about the film here. More details about the event here.
Saturday, November 27 | 9:00am – 12:00pm  | Fifth Avenue Cinemas (2110 Burrard) | $15

The Ukrainian Centre in Strathcona is serving up traditional Ukrainian Food as part of the Eastside Culture Crawl. Even if you aren’t on the Crawl, perogies and cabbage rolls are perfect late November food. Mmm, carbs! Can’t wait!
Saturday, November 27 and Sunday November 28 | 11am – 4pm | 805 E Pender | Cheap!

The new Waldorf Hotel is doing a bang-up job of brunch (at least that’s what I hear). Always good to have a new brunch option on the list! Check out the menu here.

Baker’s Market | Artisanal breads, scones, pain au chocolat, German pretzels, shortbread cookies, Parisian macarons, madeleines, cupcakes, marshmallows, chocolates, biscotti, organic vegan, and gluten-free items, plus seasonal stuff like German stollen, Christmas shortbread cookies, hand decorated sugar cookies, Christmas fruit cake, gingerbread cookies, gingerbread houses, biscotti, mince meat pies, butter tarts, pecan pies and much, much more. Take your own containers and bags. Find out more here.
Saturday, November 27 | 11 am – 3pm | Creekside Community Centre (Olympic Village)

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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.

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