28 things to do in Vancouver this week: January 20 to 23

January is quickly passing us by! Make the most of the new week with our picks of 28 things to do in Vancouver from January 20 to January 24, including Rex Orange County, PuSh Festival, and more!

For even more things happening around town, check out our events section.

Monday, January 20

Rex Orange County

What: English recording artist and songwriter Rex Orange County has garnered over one billion streams, performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and played at Coachella. He brings The Pony Tour to the PNE Forum on January 20.

When: January 20, 2020
Time: Doors 7 pm
Where: PNE Forum — 2901 E Hastings Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online

Aberdeen Centre’s Chinese New Year Flower & Gift Fair

What: The hallways of Aberdeen Centre will be transformed into a Chinese New Year Flower & Gift Fair, featuring vendors selling gifts, decorations, fresh flowers, crafts, food, home goods, and more. There will also be a Golden Dragon and Lion Dance on January 25 at 11 am and 12:15 pm, hosted by Mayor Malcolm Brodie and three-level government officials.

When: Now until January 26, 2020
Time: 11 am to 7 pm
Where: Aberdeen Centre — 4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond
Admission: Free

Shred for the Cause at Mt. Seymour

What: For the 2020 season, women can ski and snowboard every Monday at Mt Seymour for $15, with $7.50 from every lift ticket going to The Bloom Group. Men are welcome to come out and enjoy the evening as well, with lift tickets for men from 5 to 10 pm for $35.

The Bloom Group has been providing social services in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside for over 50 years, including low-barrier shelters for women and children. Drinks and food specials are being served in the Rock Chute from 5 pm onwards. Also, take part in the Shred Scavenger Hunt.

When: Every Monday from January 20 until March 23, 2020
Times: 5 to 9:30 pm
Where: Mt Seymour – 1700 Mount Seymour Road, North Vancouver
Tickets: Women $15, Men $35. Tickets will be sold out of the ticket booths at the Season Pass & Ticket Office. Ticket and rental packages will be sold in the Alpine Activity Centre

Live Script Readings: Best New Scripts, Cast on the Spot

What: Vancouver Public Library Writer in Residence Ken Hegan hosts VPL’s first Live Script Readings. Actors will perform local screenwriters’ new scripts, and the casting will happen on the spot. In partnership with Cold Reading Series.

When: January 20, 2020
Time: 7 to 8:30 pm
Where: Vancouver Public Library – Central Branch — 350 West Georgia Street, Vancouver
Admission: Free

Intergenerational Drop-In at Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House

What: The Front Step Project and Broadway Youth Resource Centre hosts an Intergenerational Drop-In at Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House. People of all ages are invited to connect over crafts, snacks and games.

When: January 20, 2020
Time: 4 to 6 pm
Where: Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House — 800 East Broadway, Vancouver
Admission: Free

Jokers at the Manchester

What: Daniela Shklover hosts a stand-up comedy show at Manchester Public Eatery on January 20. There will also be a magic act as part of the event.

When: January 20, 2020
Time: 8 to 10 pm
Where: Manchester Public Eatery — 1941 West Broadway, Vancouver
Tickets: Online

GZA

What: GZA from the Wu-Tang Clan brings the Liquid Swords 25th Anniversary tour to Commodore Ballroom on January 20. Featuring special guest Killah Priest.

When: January 20, 2020
Time: 6:30 pm
Where: Commodore Ballroom — 868 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online

Tuesday, January 21

PuSh International Performing Arts Festival 2020

What: PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Vancouver’s mid-winter festival, returns for its 16th year of groundbreaking work in the live performing arts from January 21 until February 9. PuSh 2020 includes 27 works from 24 companies from nine countries, including six world premieres. Festival-goers will also want to check out Club PuSh, the festival’s showcase of experimental and edgy acts.

When: January 21 until February 9, 2020
Time: Various times
Where: Various venues
Tickets and Passes: Online

Jazz Jam

What: ​Cory Weeds hosts the Jazz Jam at Shadbolt Centre, with local jazz musicians performing an improvised evening of music. Attendees of all ages and abilities are welcome to bring their own instruments to jam.

When: January 21, 2020
Time: 6 to 9 pm
Where: Shadbolt Centre for the Arts – 6450 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
Admission: Free

Little Volcano Veda Hille

What: Pianist and songwriter Veda Hille fuses storytelling and music into an immensely personal performance. Little Volcano draws from works by Johann Sebastian Bach, as well as Hille’s own works, to give the audience a peek into the life of the artist.

When: January 21 until January 23, 2020
Time: 8 pm
Where: Orpheum Annex — 823 Seymour Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online

So Here I Am

What: VOYZX Fine Art Project presents So Here I Am, a retrospective exhibition of contemporary surrealism with over 40 artworks by Vladimir Kolosov.

When: January 21, 2020
Time: 11 am to 5 pm
Where: Chinese Cultural Centre Museum and Archive — 555 Columbia Street, Vancouver
Admission: Free

Midge Ure

What: Scottish singer-songwriter and Live Aid co-founder Midge Ure brings the Songs, Questions, and Answers Tour to Vancouver with guests The Glen and Joe Show (of Images In Vogue).

When: January 21, 2020
Time: Doors 7:30 pm
Where: Rickshaw Theatre — 254 East Hastings Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online

Get Crafty – Kitsilano

What: Learn how to make artisan pizza with hosts from Rocky Mountain Flatbread. Each course will be paired with craft beers from Persephone Brewing Company.

When: January 21, 2020
Time: First seating begins at 5:30 pm. Each seating is 90 minutes, starting on the hour and half hour until 7:30 pm.
Where: Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co. – Kitsilano — 1876 West 1st Avenue, Vancouver
Admission: Free

Tuesday Tunes at Chickpea

What: Enjoy an evening of live music at Chickpea with two local artists each show.

When: January 21, February 4, and February 18, 2020
Time: 8:30 to 10 pm
Where: Chickpea Restaurant — 4298 Main Street, Vancouver
Admission: Free

Wednesday, January 22

“Cabane à Sucre” Dinner Series at St. Lawrence

What: St. Lawrence’s “Cabane à Sucre” dinner series features a welcome Sugar Shack-inspired cocktail, multi-course menu of Cabane-styled cuisine, cognac, and dessert.

When: Now until January 23, 2020
Time: Seatings at 5:30 pm and 8 pm
Where: St Lawrence Restaurant – 269 Powell Street, Vancouver
Price: $125 per person; buy online

Revolution of Our Times Artist Talk

What: Photojournalist Aaron Guy Leroux and designer Adam Alamis will discuss their exhibit, Revolution of Our Times, and their experiences on the ground during the protests.

When: January 22, 2020
Time: 7 to 8:30 pm
Where: The Polygon Gallery — 101 Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver
Tickets: Online, Free

Ted Talks Discussion Circle: Overcoming Depression

What: ​Burnaby Public Library hosts a discussion circle, where attendees watch two or three short TED talk videos on a specific topic, then take part in a conversation led by a librarian. This month’s featured TED talks are on Overcoming Depression.

When: January 22, 2020
Time: 7 to 8:30 pm
Where: Burnaby Public Library – Cameron Branch — 9523 Cameron Street, Burnaby
Admission: Free

The Lion in Winter

What: Stage 43 presents The Lion in Winter, set in Christmas 1183 in Chinon, France, with ageing King Henry II hosting a reunion to name a successor to the throne of England. A play of backstabbing, deceit, and family dysfunction.

When: Now until January 25, 2020
Time: 8 pm
Where: Evergreen Cultural Centre – 1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Tickets: Online

Ann Pearson at Richmond Public Library

What: Author Ann Pearson converses about her new book, A Promise on the Horizon, a historical novel based on events in the life of French writer Stendhal (Marie-Henri Beyle). Pearson will share the challenges of writing biographical fiction and what the medium can achieve that traditional biography can not. Presented in partnership with Granville Island Publishing.

When: January 22, 2020
Time: 7 to 8:30 pm
Where: Richmond Public Library — 100-7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond
Admission: Free

Lion Dance for Chinese New Year

What: UBC Kung Fu Association presents a Lion Dance for the Chinese New Year at UBC’s Beaty Biodiversity Museum on January 22.

When: January 22, 2020
Time: 3:30 to 4:30 pm
Where: Beaty Biodiversity Museum 2212 Main Mall, Vancouver
Admission: Included with museum admission or membership.

Incite: Poets in Conversation

What: Vancouver Writers Fest’s first Incite event of 2020 is Poets in Conversation, featuring Chantal Gibson (How She Read), Jennica Harper (Bounce House), Alex Leslie (Vancouver for Beginners), and Hasan Namir (War/Torn).

When: January 22, 2020
Time: 7:30 pm
Where: Alice MacKay Room – Vancouver Public Library — 350 W Georgia Street, Vancouver
Register: Online, Free

Thursday, January 23

Amber Liu

What: Rapper, singer, and songwriter Amber Liu, known for her work with South Korean girl group f(x), brings Tour X to Vancouver along with guests Meg & Dia and Justice Carradine.

When: January 23, 2020
Time: 7 pm
Where: Vogue Theatre — 918 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online

Noises Off

What: Arts Club presents Michael Frayn’s Noises Off, a farcical look at the rehearsal process with a group of actors before a performance of the British sex comedy Nothing On.

When: Various dates from January 23 until February 23, 2020
Time: Various times
Where: Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage — 2750 Granville Street, Vancouver
Tickets: Online

Vancouver Public Library Winter Used Book Sale

What: Vancouver Public Library is holding a huge used book sale from January 23 to January 25 at VPL’s main branch at 350 West Georgia Street. The sale will also feature DVDs, CDs, and other media among the offerings. All sales are final, and attendees are asked to bring their own bags to carry their new finds home in. Prices start at just 50 cents for some items, and $2 for hardcovers. Anything that remains unsold by Saturday will be half price.

When: January 23 to 25, 2020
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Vancouver Public Library Central Branch – 350 West Georgia Street, Vancouver
Admission: Free

Smash Comedy Festival

What: Produced by Nasty Women Comedy, the second Smash Comedy Festival is a three-day comedy festival spotlighting Vancouver’s women/trans/femme/plus performers. Featuring sketch, improv, stand-up, drag, and more.

When: January 23 to January 25, 2020
Time: Various times
Where: Various venues
Tickets: Online

Mama’s Boy

What: Award-winning and critically acclaimed comedian Mike Delamont presents Mama’s Boy, a comedic and tragic true story about a young boy raised by a single mother struggling with addiction her entire life.

When: January 23 to January 24, 2020
Time: 8 pm
Where: Shadbolt Centre for the Arts – 6450 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
Tickets: Online

Community Movie Night: Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse

What: City Centre Community Centre hosts a free, all-ages screening of Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse. Light refreshments will be provided to the attendees

When: January 23, 2020
Time: 7 pm
Where: City Centre Community Centre — 5900 Minoru Boulevard, Richmond
Admission: Free

The Late Christopher Bean

What: Surrey Little Theatre presents The Late Christopher Bean, a comedic play about a family that discovers that a struggling artist who rented their room may have art that is posthumously valuable. Misunderstandings, greed and comedy take place as the family gathers the paintings that may be worth a fortune.

When: Various dates from now until February 22, 2020
Time: Various times
Where: Surrey Little Theatre — 7027 184 Street, Surrey
Tickets: Online