Granville Island
Fringe fan favourite Hockey Night at the Puck and Pickle Pub is a two-man performance taking place on Granville Island during Winterruption, which this year runs Feb. 14 to 16.
The annual festival celebrating music, food and the arts returns with a goal to banish those winter doldrums and, once again, the majority of events are free. Highlights include: glass-blowing workshops; musical performances by children’s entertainer Charlotte Diamond, We Are the City, Wake Owl, Qalandar and other independent acts; the Meet Your Makers Tour: Spirits, Sake, and Hand Crafted Beer, led by travel writer John Lee; and PechaKucha Granville Island: An Innovative Idea Exchange — a creative speaker series featuring some of the area’s artists, artisans, directors, curators, and producers.
Edible Canada House: Festival Under the Bridge takes place all weekend with opportunities to cheer on Canadian Olympians with large screen presentations of the Sochi Games, beer, wine, Canadian comfort foods, live DJs and bands. There are many other activities taking place over the weekend including sustainable seafood tours and Japanese floral art. For a complete schedule, visit winterruption.com.
Downtown
The Light the Night Canada — Vancouver Walks team is hosting a skating party and lantern ceremony to coincide with World Cancer Day Feb. 4.
Families and friends are invited to take part in the celebration at the Robson Square ice rink from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to show support for the cancer community. Check out Light the Night Canada — Vancouver Walks on Facebook for more details. Skating is free but there is a small fee for rentals.
Stanley Park
A pre-Valentine’s Day event, aptly named Romantic Stanley Park: Discovery Walk, takes place Feb. 9 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Lost Lagoon Nature House.
Stanley Park has long been known as the most romantic spot in Vancouver. This event will include intriguing stories from the park’s past and an opportunity to see rare historical photos. The nature house is located at the foot of Alberni Street. For registration details call 604-718-6522.
Grandview-Woodland
World Poetry Vancouver is celebrating both Black History Month and love with a free event Feb. 15, at the Britannia Community Centre from 3 to 4:45 p.m.
Hosts Ariadne Sawyer and Kagan Goh will welcome a diverse range of writers and musicians including First Nations poet Godwin Barton, Roger Blenman, Anthony Blackman, Laura Kelsey, Rosario Arias Naranjo, Steve Duncan, Diane Laloge and Sharon Rowe. An open mike segment will allow members of the audience to showcase their talents as well. Refreshments, a door prize and raffle are also part of the afternoon’s lovefest. For more information, visit worldpoetry.ca or call 604-526-4729.
The third annual Underground Comedy Railroad Tour makes its way across Canada Feb. 7 to 28 in honour of Black History Month, including a Feb. 22 performance at the Rio Theatre, 1660 East Broadway.
The Vancouver performance features Gilson Lubin, Rodney Ramsey, Kwasi Thomas and Andrew Searles, known for their “hilarious and uniquely Canadian, comedic perspectives” on everything from race relations to everyday life. For more information, visit undergroundcomedyrailroad.com.
sthomas@vancourier.com
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