Entertainment in Vancouver
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Wise Club
This comfortably grungy former church hall is a friendly neighborhood gem that's close to the heart of in-the-know locals, who flock here to catch live ska, salsa, improv shows and the occasional hip-hop DJ night – check the eclectic schedule for events or just hang out in the lounge (ask the bartender to sign you in as a guest). It's a great place to mix with cool East Vancouverites; the bouncy floor here brings out the moshpit desires in the most reluctant of dancers.
reviewed
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Media Club
This intimate, low-ceilinged indie space tucked underneath the back of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre books inventive local acts that mix and match the genres, so you may have the chance to see electro-symphonic or acoustic metal groups alongside power pop, hip-hop and country bands – although probably not on the same night. A great place for a loud night out (earplugs not supplied), this rivals the Railway Club and the Rickshaw for catching up-and-coming Vancouver acts.
reviewed
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Keefer
A dark, narrow and sophisticated new bar that – along with nearby Bao Bei – is changing the face of Chinatown from old-school to mod-cool. Claimed by the hipsters as soon as it opened in 2010, you'll find an intriguing menu of extremely well-crafted cocktails (they start north of the $10 mark, so they should be) plus Asian-fusion tapas. Try something new and you're almost bound to be blown away (if you need help, go for the Opium Sour or Keefer Fizz).
reviewed
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Bard on the Beach
Watching Shakespeare performed while the sun sets behind the North Shore mountains looming through the open back of a tented stage is a singular Vancouver highlight. An enduring favorite summer pastime for city culture hounds, there are usually three or four Bard plays on offer, and a related playwright is sometimes added to the mix. The smaller studio stage showcases slightly less mainstream fare. Free preshow talks are offered before Tuesday-night performances.
reviewed
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Cellar Restaurant & Jazz Club
A serious muso venue where you're required to keep the noise down and respect the performers on the tiny corner stage, this subterranean 70-seat resto-club is as close as you'll get in Vancouver to a classic jazz venue. Known for showcasing hot local performers, as well as some great touring acts, the atmospheric spot lures aficionados from across the region with its mix of mainstream and edgier fare. On Tuesdays, entry is free and there are good beer specials.
reviewed
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Kitty Nights
Taking over the hipster-fave Biltmore on Sunday evenings, this ever-popular big night out – hosted by The Purrrfessor and Burgundy Brixx – is like an old-school variety show…with a rather saucy spin. The acts include a full roster of New York–style burlesque dancers and you can expect some teasing audience participation from your wise-cracking hosts. Arrive early: those geeky males working in IT who haven't seen a girl all week tend to hog the best seats.
reviewed
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Odyssey
This ever-popular gay club, combining regular drag nights on Wednesday and Sunday with a host of ever-changing special events throughout the week, is a thumpingly fun night out. Of course, you don't have to be gay to dance here, but it certainly helps if you're planning to meet someone (which almost everyone here is). The vibe is entertainingly risqué – hence Thursday night's Shower Power, when local beefcakes lather up in front of the slavering crowds.
reviewed
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Whip
The wood-floored Whip fuses the best in pub and lounge approaches. There's a dare-inviting selection of seven martinis, each named after a deadly sin (lust is always recommended) and a good menu with tempting treats such as yam frites and pad Thai. But it's the beer that wins regulars, with choice drafts from R&B Brewing, Storm Brewing and Quebec's infamous Unibroue. Consider dropping by on a Sunday afternoon when it cracks open a guest keg.
reviewed
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Fairview Pub
Like a neighborhood pub that time forgot, the Fairview is a great little laid-back joint if all you want to do is grab a few beers, nosh on some chicken wings and catch some great blues licks. The regular house band hits the stage on Thursday with a rumbling back catalogue forged from 12 years on the road. If you miss the big night, there’s an eclectic roster of music here most Fridays and Saturdays, including jazz, funk, retro and rock and roll.
reviewed
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The Calling
This is a small but swanky reinvention of the neighborhood bar idea – think silky hardwood floors, mod furnishings and black-clad waiters – where the main draw is the slender covered patio overlooking English Bay, perfect for sunsets and storm-watching. It serves gourmet grub such as smoky bacon and gorgonzola burgers, and the drinks menu includes plenty of European beers, a smattering of wine classics and a roster of serious cocktails.
reviewed
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Ballet BC
Despite almost folding due to financial problems in 2009, the region's premier dance troupe has resurrected itself with renewed determination. Under artistic director Emily Molner, the 15-dancer group continues to reinvent classic money- spinners like Giselle and Swan Lake while thrusting ahead with challenging new contemporary works. Ballet BC mainly performs at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre from September to April.
reviewed
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Yale
A sassy unpretentious old gal with a large stage, a devoted clientele and a beer-sticky dance floor, the grunge-tastic Yale is possibly western Canada's best blues venue. Photos of past performers Koko Taylor, Junior Wells and even John Lee Hooker adorn the grubby brick walls, while latter-day regulars on the big stage include local fave Jim Byrnes, who holds court here like a king. Many shows are free here – check the website calendar for details.
reviewed
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Grind Gallery Café
The artwork-lined Grind is open 24/7, fueling starving students, artists and writers throughout the night. The large, open space hosts an art gallery, concerts and spoken word performances, as well as the philosophical and political musings of its regular patrons who have made this spot a mainstay of the local scene. Alongside the coffee, there are plenty of quality options for those who prefer to quaff tea – try the green tea frappuccino.
reviewed
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Doolins
The best-looking Irish bar in Vancouver – take a quick tour of the cavernous wooden-beamed and stained-glass interior before finding your perch and hitting the menu. Not surprisingly, Guinness tops the draft popularity stakes but you'll also find lesser-expected alternatives like Murphy's and Caffrey's. There's also an extensive pub grub menu (the pulled pork sandwich is good) plus live toe-tapping Celtic music most nights. Clamorous on weekends.
reviewed
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Firehall Arts Centre
One of the leading players in Vancouver's independent theater scene, this intimate, studio-sized venue is located inside a historic fire station. It presents culturally diverse contemporary drama and dance, with an emphasis on showcasing emerging talent. An important venue during the annual Dancing on the Edge festival, there's also a convivial licensed lounge onsite where visiting drama fans discuss the scene over a few beers.
reviewed
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Gateway Theatre
The Lower Mainland's third-largest theater company (and Richmond's only professional live theater), the state-of-the-art Gateway has two stages and runs a full roster of shows during its season. Slick productions of contemporary favorites and older classics – there's usually at least one musical here per season – occupy the main stage, while intriguing and more challenging work fills the studio space, including some premieres of bold new plays.
reviewed
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Joy Kogawa House
Saved from demolition in 2006 by a hardy band of literary volunteers and the deep pockets of the Land Conservancy Trust (funds are still required to renovate the property), the modest bungalow where celebrated Japanese Canadian poet and novelist Kogawa grew up now has a writer-in-residence program and a drive to become a pilgrimage spot for local and visiting bookworms. There's a calendar of varied readings, workshops and events on its website.
reviewed
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Touchstone Theatre Company
One of Vancouver's most vital and refreshing theater companies, Touchstone has been treading the local boards for more than 30 years. It's never lost touch with its commitment to nurture and stage contemporary Canadian theater and it often premieres new work by local writers or stages the first regional productions of important national works. The company performs around the city – check the website to see what it's up to during your visit.
reviewed
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Chill Winston
Gastown's best patio is the highlight attraction of this large, brick-lined bar overlooking Maple Tree Sq. Snag a spot under a parasol on a sunny afternoon and you're unlikely to move much for the rest of the day. Drinks-wise, you'll find a wide array of tipples, from flirty cocktails to New World wines, as well as a good boutique selection of interesting beers from Quebec, Belgium, the UK and beyond. Refuel with some sharable tapas plates.
reviewed
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Café Calabria
When Vancouverites tell you that Commercial is the city's best coffee street, this is one of the places they're thinking about. It tops a healthy handful of great cafes founded here by Italian immigrants, and these guys really know their java. Don't be put off by the chandeliers-and-statues decor (if Liberace had opened a coffee shop, this is what it would have looked like) – just order an espresso and biscotti and pull up a chair outside.
reviewed
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Afterglow
Tucked at the back of Glowbal, the city's tiniest lounge is an intimate, brick-lined room studded with low-slung couches and little white coffee tables: it feels like a den for fashionistas. Pull up a vinyl stool and you'll soon be experimenting with flirty cocktails or a selection from the restaurant's wine list. Take a break from all that quaffing with a handful of lip-smacking satay sticks or some black truffle popcorn.
reviewed
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Bacchus
A roaring hearth on a chilly day is the main attraction at Bacchus, a decadent bar with a gentleman's club ambience on the lobby level of the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa. Sink into a deep leather chair, adjust your monocle and listen to the piano player as you sip a signature Red Satin Slip martini of vodka, raspberry liqueur and cranberry juice. There's a good small-plate menu for the incurably esurient (go for the cheese).
reviewed
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Granville 7
The remaining vestige of a once-thriving cluster of cinemas lining both sides of downtown's old entertainment strip, the Granville 7 might not be around much longer – which probably explains why the escalators are hardly ever switched on – but it still screens a good selection of mainstream and second-run flicks. Empire Theatres, its new owners, have recently reduced the ticket price to an enticing $7.99 for all shows ($5.99 on Tuesdays).
reviewed
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Arts Club Theatre Company
Musicals, international classics and works by contemporary Canadian playwrights are part of the mix at this leading theater company. If you're curious about West Coast theatrics, look out for plays by Morris Panych, BC's favorite playwright son. The company's three performance spaces are the Granville Island Stage, the nearby and more intimate Revue Stage and the refurbished 1930s Stanley Theatre.
reviewed
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Cobalt
Vancouver's punk, hardcore and metal fans almost swallowed their tongue studs in anger when the owners of this insalubrious Eastside hotel kicked out the legendary Wendy Thirteen, promoter of the city's alternative music scene, who had been scheduling acts here to great, spit-lobbing acclaim for years. The 'new' venue has yet to take off with the old crowd but it still schedules live acts – not all of them hardcore – almost every night.
reviewed