Photo from Public Disco’s 2018 Alley Oop
By Loose Lips Mag
@Looselipsmag
How is it already May? The city is bustling this spring with festivals, art shows, workshops, and exhibitions. Here’s what’s happening this month in Vancouver.
qaʔ yəxw – water honours us: womxn and waterways: This exhibition
features video, photography, carving, printmaking, beading, and performance, highlighting women’s unique relationship with water as child bearers, healers, doulas, and other roles key to Indigenous matriarchal societies of the Northwest Coast. Learn more about the exhibit here.
Date: April 10–October 2
Time: Based on gallery hours
Location: Bill Reid Gallery, 639 Hornby Street, Vancouver. Find out more here.
Amanda Smart: Recollect: Amanda Smart’s work is a love of reflection and transparency — the way that light reveals forms underneath water, the enigmatic glow of light on skin, and crystalline patterns on rocks are the sources of exploration in her work. This exhibit at Betamax will mark her inaugural solo show.
Opening Night Reception: Friday, April 12, 7-11pm
Dates: April 12 – May 12
Location: Betamax Gallery, 2244 East Hastings
Dead People’s Things: Dead People’s Things “tells the story of Phyllis, a millennial who inherits a house and all of its contents after her estranged hoarder aunt commits suicide. Phyllis must then collaborate with her neighbour Beatrice, who has been named executor of the estate, to understand the life of a woman she barely knew through the myriad, eclectic items she left behind.”
Date: April 17- May 5
Time: Varies based on show viewing
Location: Studio 16, 227- 1555 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver. Find tickets here.
IGNITE! Youth-Driven Arts Festival: Every year, The Cultch opens its doors for youth to transform their space for one week. Hundreds of youth come together to form Vancouver’s largest youth-driven arts festival with showcases in music, dance, and spoken word. The entire festival is created by local artists aged 13-26 and is a compilation of art that is not to be missed.
Date: April 26- May 4
Time: Varies based on day and specific performances
Location: 1895 Venables Street, Vancouver. Find tickets for the show here.
Meet Jillian Harris at Saje Robson: Vancouver, you’re invited to a special meet and greet with Love It or List It’s very own Jillian Harris! Come out for the chance to meet Jillian and enjoy snacks and drinks from Juice Truck and Erin Ireland.
Date: May 1
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Saje Robson, 1091 Robson Street, Vancouver. Check out the event page here.
Immersion- A Connection to Self: “This immersion will take you through a physical, emotional, and energetic dive into deep connection with self. From that authentic place of connection, we will begin to experience and explore the wisdom and power of our wombs. We will take you on a journey from shaking off your day with a physical movement practice, through self-care and connection with ancient Chinese healing tools, to deep relational embodiment from modern-day somatic therapy techniques.:
Date: May 1
Time: 7:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Location: Werklab, Unit 290 1275 Venables Street, Vancouver. Find out about the event on their website.
DOXA Documentary Film Fest: From May 2 through 12, Vancouver is lucky to have DOXA here! The documentary film fest is an opportunity for the public to understand the complexity of our times through documentary media.
Date: May 2-12
Time: Varies based on showing
Location: Varies based on documentary. Find out more info on their website.
41st Annual Greek Food Festival: Been missing festival season? Us, too. Come out for three days of live performances, heritage displays, and delicious greek food!
Date: May 3-5
Time: Friday 5:00 PM- 10:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday 12:00 PM- 10:00 PM
Location: Hellenic Community of Vancouver, 4500 Arbutus Street, Vancouver. Find the event page here.
Because We Are Girls: You won’t want to miss this important screening headlining DOXA’s 2019 festival. “A conservative Indo-Canadian family in Williams Lake, British Columbia must come to terms with a devastating secret: three sisters were sexually abused by an older relative beginning in their childhood years. After remaining silent for nearly two and a half decades, the sisters decide to come forward — not only to protect other young relatives, but also to set an example for their own daughters. Vancouver-based Filmmaker Baljit Sangra explores the impact of sexual abuse on a family, turning her empathetic lens on intimate moments as they process and heal.” Read Kristi Alexandra’s interview with the incredible Baljit Sangra here.
Date: May 3 and 12
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: DOXA Festival; SFU Woodward’s, 149 West Hastings Street, Vancouver. Find out more here.
The Show at Emily Carr University: The Show is an opportunity to celebrate the Class of 2019 and emerge yourself in local art! Featuring pieces by graduating students across all five degree programs, there is no doubt that you will find inspiration within their exceptional works.
Date: May 3-19
Time: M-F 10:00 AM- 8:00 PM; S+Su 10:00 AM- 6:00 PM
Location: Emily Carr University, 520 East 1st Avenue, Vancouver. Find out about The Show here.
Electric Bicycle Brewing Back Alley Bash: Electric Bicycle Brewing is having its first birthday! Come celebrate the community at an indoor and outdoor beer garden/disco party. With special beer releases, live painting, a BBQ, and a live DJ, this is not to be missed.
Date: May 4
Time: 12:00 PM- 10:00 PM
Location: 20th East 4th Avenue, Vancouver. Check out their website for more.
Got Craft? 2019 Spring Edition: Vancouver’s beloved craft fair is back this spring with 85 local makers and small shops! With over 50% of vendors being new to Got Craft? this weekend will have a full range of exciting products to browse. From clothing to artisanal food to florals, you don’t want to miss this!
Date: May 4-5
Time: 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM
Location: Maritime Labour Ctr Ltd, 1880 Triumph Street, Vancouver. Find tickets here.
Glitter Ball 2019: “Glitter Ball is a music festival fronted exclusively by women and those who identify with other marginalized genders, welcoming cis women, trans women, genderqueer women, non-binary folks, and those who otherwise challenge the cis heteronormative binary.” Come out for disco balls, donuts, and dancing! Read more about Glitter Ball on Loose Lips here.
Date: May 4 and 5
Time: 5:00 PM- 12:00 AM
Location: Creative Coworkers, 520 Alexander Street, Vancouver. See the event page here.
Feelosophy: Join Feelosophy for an hour of restorative yoga with hands-on touch. Using massage-based adjustments, this yoga is a space to slow down and feel.
Date: May 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: Varies depending on date
Location: The Garden Strathcona, 868 East Hastings Street, Vancouver. Register here.
Veg Expo 2019: Back for the 6th annual year, Veg Expo presented by Choices Market is a day of celebration for the entire family. Come and see new, innovative, and inspiring products and services for a plant-based lifestyle.
Date: May 5
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver. Find out more here.
BC Cider Fest 2019: BC Cider Fest is back for its third year! Don’t miss this opportunity to taste products from 20+ cideries and meet the behind-the-scenes producers and orchardists.
Date: May 5
Time: 2:00 PM- 6:00 PM
Location: Pipe Shop, 115 Victory Ship Way, North Vancouver. Find out more on their event page.
NASSIM: “From Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour comes an audacious new theatrical experiment. Each night a different performer joins the playwright on stage, while the script waits unseen in a sealed box…Touchingly autobiographical yet powerfully universal, it is a striking theatrical demonstration of how language can both divide and unite us.”
Date: May 7-19
Time: Varies based on day
Location: Historic Theatre, 1895 Venables Street, Vancouver. Find tickets for the show here.
HIMMAT- Celebrating the South Asian Women Around Us: “This reflective social commentary exhibit highlights the stories of 10 women from the South Asian diaspora in Vancouver. With this exhibit, we’re bringing attention to the women and stories that we might not often hear about in mainstream media. Beyond the buzz of the word ‘empowerment’, we’re showcasing the complicated intricacies in which one’s identity is formed. Join us on May 9th, as we celebrate women who foster courage, resilience, and have lived their lives boldly authentic to themselves.”
Date: May 9
Time: 6:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Location: The Playground, 434 Columbia Street, Vancouver. Find tickets here.
Grace Lab- Wine Tasting With Nicole Lougheed: Join resident wine expert Nicole Lougheed as she pours 6-8 different wines for tasting! Her knack for selecting approachable wines makes Nicole the perfect person to learn from.
Date: May 9
Time: 6:30 PM- 9:00 PM
Location: Suite Genius Mt. Pleasant, 225 West 8th Avenue #300, Vancouver. Check out tickets here.
Ballet BC- Program 3: “Collaborators Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar return to captivate audiences with the North American premiere of Bedroom Folk, an electric mix of music, dance and light. The program continues with a world premiere by Vancouver-based artist Serge Bennathan—a significant voice in Canadian dance. We end this celebratory season with the much-anticipated return of Ohad Naharin’s playful Minus 16.”
Date: May 9-11
Time: 8:00 PM
Location: Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 649 Cambie Street, Vancouver. Find tickets here.
Rain City Block Party: Public Disco, Viva Vancouver, Vancouver Public Space Network, and Soul Hop are teaming up to create a rain-friendly block party under Cambie Street Bridge. Featuring vendors, DJs, food trucks, a hula-hoop zone, ping pong, lounge spaces, and more!
Date: May 11
Time: 12:00 PM- 6:00 PM
Location: Olympic Village Station, 513 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver. Find out more here.
Colour Fest 2019: Save the date for Colour Fest 2019! This iconic festival is a celebration of South Asian Holi through music, dance, and a community colour war. Completely family friendly and free, this is the perfect event to mark on your calendar!
Date: May 11
Time: 2:00 PM- 5:00 PM
Location: Stay tuned for updates on their event page.
An Evening With Anna Silman: Join Werklab for a conversation with acclaimed writer Anna Silman from New York Magazine’s The Cut. The talk will include journalism, feminism, politics, the #MeToo movement, and more. Anna’s ability to bring together politics and entertainment has sparked a new generation of feminist writing.
Date: May 16
Time: 7:00 PM- 8:30 PM
Location: Werklab, Unit 290 1275 Venables Street, Vancouver. Find the event here.
Matilda: “Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty to find your happy ending! Armed with an outsize wit and a vivid imagination, precocious Matilda takes a stand to change her destiny. Even cruel parents and a hardened headmistress can’t get in her way. From the wonderfully subversive imagination of Roald Dahl, this fun family musical will bring out the child in everyone.”
Date: May 16- July 14
Time: Varies based on showing
Location: Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, Granville @ 12th, 2750 Granville Street, Vancouver. Find tickets here.
Black Mother: “Black Mother is a new documentary by acclaimed New York-based photographer Khalik Allah (also the director of Beyoncé’s Lemonade). It’s a pilgrimage through Jamaican culture and history, as well as a poetic homage to Black womanhood and maternity. The film’s movements are marked by the trimesters of a pregnancy.”
Date: May 17-20, 24
Time: Varies based on show
Location: The Cinematheque, 1131 Howe Street, Vancouver. Find out more here.
Master Yourself With the Bodhi Effect by Courtney Thomas: This is perfect workshop for any growth seeking individuals! The two-hour class is for those who wish to ignite their inner drive and master their strengths and emotions.
Date: May 22
Time: 7:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Location: Werklab, Unit 290 1275 Venables Street, Vancouver. Check out the event here.
Munching with Mindfulness With Therapist + Author Ailey Jolie: “If you have struggled with food and body it can be hard to discern what voices being to us and what voices are coming from society. This is because Intuitive Eating goes against the mentality set forward by the soup of diet culture we live in. For this reason, the practice of slowing down, getting curious, being mindful are powerful practices when applied to munching.”
Date: May 23
Time: 6:30 PM- 9:00 PM
Location: Werklab, Unit 290 1275 Venables Street, Vancouver. Find out more here.
Good Grief- Exploring and Understanding Grief and Loss: Join in for an intimate and warm evening of exploration into grief. Gain insight and understanding about the process of healing through personal narratives.
Date: May 27
Time: 6:30 PM- 9:30 PM
Location: The Garden Strathcona, 868 East Hastings Street, Vancouver. Find tickets here.
Nasty Women Comedy- Falconry: “As this Vancouver comedy super group does every single month at the Biltmore Cabaret, Nasty Women will be bringing you a hilarious night of made-up-on-the-spot-how-do-they-do-it improv comedy, but they’ll also be attempting to master the fine art of falconry and the deep connection between (wo)man and beast that can only be felt while wearing a thick leather glove. After all, these are modern women who absolutely CAN have it all: the career, the romance, the ravenous flying dinosaur with dead eyes.”
Date: May 27
Time: 8:30 PM- 10:00 PM
Location: Biltmore Cabaret, 2755 Prince Edward Street, Vancouver. Find tickets on Eventbrite.
Getting Clear Through Breathwork With Bree: Take a night for yourself! Bree Melanson will lead the class through intention setting and guided breathwork to remove emotional, mental, and physical blockages. Reduce stress, gain mental clarity, heal physical ailments, and tap into your intuition with Bree.
Date: May 29 and 30
Time: 7:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Location: Werklab, Unit 290 1275 Venables Street, Vancouver. See the event here.
The Return of Soul Gospel: Last year, Vancouver audiences went crazy for Good Noise’s Christmas concert and for their final concert of the season they are joining forces with Dawn Pemberton and Warren Dean Flandez for The Return of Soul Gospel. There will be music by Al Green, Annie Lennox, Stevie Wonder, and Bill Withers– and so much more.
Date: Saturday, May 25
Time: 3 PM & 8 PM
Location: Christ Church Cathedral, 690 Burrard Street, Vancouver
Archive Consignment Warehouse Sale: Join in for a two day consignment sale to help Vancouver create a sustainable system for apparel!
Date: May 31- June 1
Time: 11:00 AM- 5:00 PM
Location: Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street, Vancouver. Find the event page here.
Kristi and Brittany are the co-founders and co-editors of Loose Lips Mag. Together with intern Tayvie, they’re building their feminist media empire—leaving the patriarchy, charcuterie boards and empty bottles of wine in their wake. Loose Lips Media is grateful to operate on the unceded Coast Salish territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.
