Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for April 19-25

This week: get inspiration for a new tattoo, take in some art at the Vancouver Art Gallery, explore the sounds of the city and more

Surrey Vaisakhi Parade – April 19

Billed as “one of the Lower Mainland’s most vibrant and celebratory events,” Surrey’s Khalsa Day Parade hits the streets on April 19. The biggest celebration of its kind outside of India, the festivities commemorate one of the most important religious events on the Sikh calendar – the birth of Khalsa in 1699. The parade is expected to draw 200,000 revelers of different cultures and creeds, highlighting Surrey’s multi-culti mosaic. Catch it from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., beginning and ending at Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar Temple.

Credit: Earls

Earls Easter Brunch – April 18 and 21

Forget dining on chocolate bunnies this Easter weekend; Earls Kitchen + Bar (various locations) has a much better idea. Check out their special Good Friday and Easter Monday brunch that features fluffy French Toast piled high with apples and cinnamon, a Croque Madam (the best grilled ham and cheese sandwich you’ve ever tasted) or an equally delish Chorizo & Mushroom Hash and a house-made Granola + Yogurt Parfait. And if that doesn’t hit the spot, you can always order off the Earls regular menu, too.

Earth Day – April 22

There’s no place like home. And that’s especially true about the home we all share, Mother Earth. So give props to our planet on Earth Day, celebrated globally on April 22. But why not keep the party going at South Vancouver’s Everett Crowley Park, where you can help plant 1,000 native trees on April 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. And if you’re just not digging this idea, rest assured, there are plenty of other Earth Day events held around the province that don’t involve getting your hands dirty.

Vancouver Tattoo and Culture Show – April 25 to 27

The Vancouver Tattoo & Culture Show is set to leave a mark on Lower Mainlanders in more ways than one. Held from April 25 to 27 at the Vancouver Convention Centre – East Building (1055 Canada Place), this annual expo includes dozens of top international ink artists in action, along with an eclectic array of vendors, a pin-up pageant, and a live DJ. Admission is $20 at the door, with full details online.

Kim’s Convenience- April 24 to May 24

Called “hilarious,” “touching” and a “Canadian classic in the making,” Mr. Kim’s Convenience was the smash hit of the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival. Rest assured, it loses nothing in the retelling (not even its Toronto references!) when it comes to Granville Island Stage from April 24 to May 24. It’s all about Mr. Kim, a Korean store owner grappling with his changing Cowtown neighbourhood and his disconnect with his second-generation offspring.  

Vancouver Art Gallery’s FUSE – April 25

“Expansive beauty and terrible realities” collide at the Vancouver Art Gallery’s FUSE on of Friday, April 25. Named the Best Art Party in Vancouver, FUSE offers experimental art, cutting-edge new music and innovative live performances, all inspired by the striking photography in Edward Burtynsky’s exhibition, A Terrible Beauty, And if that’s not incentive enough, your ticket buys you a chance to glimpse all of VAG’s current exhibitions, too!

Killer Joe – Until May 4

ITSAZOO Productions presents the grisly, pitch-black comedy Killer Joe from now until May 4, at the Italian Cultural Centre (3075 Slocan St, Vancouver).This ‘trailer-trash noir’ is penned by Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts (August: Osage County) and follows a dysfunctional Texas family who hire a contract killer in a bid to collect life insurance. What sets this site-specific show apart, though: the action takes place in a purpose-built trailer park, giving audiences immersive, intimate proximity to the killer kinfolk.

Credit: VIFF 

David Auborn at Stage to Screen- April 26

Merging the magical world of theatre with cinema, Stage to Screen is an exciting new series that introduces some of North America’s top talent to Vancouver audiences. First up on April 26 is Pulitzer winning playwright David Auburn, screening his directorial debut, The Girl in the Park (starring Sigourney Weaver and Kate Bosworth), followed by a Q&A, a live stage reading of his play “Proof” and a private reception. Tickets are $47 for the full day event, starting at 3 p.m. and ending at 10:30 p.m.

Vancouver Soundwalk – April 27 and May 4

Contemplative walking tours of the city closes out Vancouver New Music’s 40th season with the presentation of two Soundwalks on April 27 and May 4. These free events, led by members of the Vancouver Soundwalk Collective, are interactive explorations into the soundtrack of the city, where groups will spend 90 minutes identifying interesting sounds, patterns and rhythms in outdoor settings, either around Waterfront Station (April 27) or the False Creek seawall (May 4). Go online to sign up.

VanDusen Botanical Garden – Daily

Nature may be a savage garden, but won’t find anything remotely uncultivated at VanDusen Botanical Garden, now offering guided walking tours where you can enjoy all the splendours of spring. Tours run daily at 2 p.m. (plus Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.), with group tours also available if you book in advance. And good news for flower fans with limited walking ability; you can climb aboard a Cart Tour running daily until Thanksgiving at 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., with advance booking recommended by calling 604-257-8666.