Entertainment
Vancouver, only 100 years ago a sleepy little logging town on the west coast of North America, is today one of the liveliest, multi-culturally diverse and most exciting cities in the world.
Blessed with a mild climate and a booming economy, Vancouver has grown into a major international hub for trade and commerce, but at the same time has also earned a reputation as the place to be for excitement, entertainment, and fine dining, for its three million inhabitants and for the millions of tourists who flock here every year.
Greater Vancouver is home to more than 30 theatre complexes, with about 300 separate screens, so chances are you can find either that special arts film, or the latest Hollywood release, somewhere near you.
A good place to find out what’s showing is: Cinema Clock Vancouver. If you want to read some reviews on the movie you’re thinking of seeing, check out: MRQE which carries up-to-date reviews from the New York and LA Times to Variety and Rolling Stones magazines.
If you want something more intimate and immediate, what about seeing a stage play? Your best source for what’s on live in Vancouver is the website of the Georgia Strait newspaper.
This excellent site (from Vancouver’s oldest and most respected alternative press) offers reviews and recommendations on everything from the Arts & Theatre scenes to dining and lifestyle choices. Perhaps best of all, this site has the "Best of Vancouver" listings as chosen by the Strait’s hundreds of thousands of faithful readers on everything from the Best of Media, Arts & Culture to the best Food & Drink, and the Best of Nightlife.
Speaking of nightlife, if you just can’t make up your mind what you want to do on a Saturday night (or any other night) go to: Where Vancouver
Just running down the list of search selections might persuade you to try something different, like going bowling, playing billiards or pool, or taking in a show at a comedy club or jazz bar.
If you want to take a gamble (literally) you might check out what’s happening at the RiverRock Casino/resort in Richmond, just south of Vancouver which also has a lot of big name shows, especially comedy (recent performers include Don Rickles, and Joan Rivers) as well as a steady stream of lesser known but equally impressive entertainers.
Still haven’t made up your mind what to do? Try zvents and then sort by date/time, to get a listing of everything from big name visiting comedians (e.g. Chris Rock) to bands to stage plays (e.g. Mama Mia). A really handy feature of this site is that its various listings for events and venues include maps showing restaurants and/or bars & clubs within the immediate area!
Finally, if you want to look ahead at what’s coming to Vancouver in the near and not-so-near future, go to: Vancouver Kiosk where you will find a good summary of major events coming to Vancouver, from the 2010 Olympic games and the PNE to lesser known events such as the Celtic Fest, Bard on the Beach, the Vancouver Fringe Festival, and the Vancouver International film festival or click here for a listing of Vancouver Bars & Nightlife.
