Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for December 7 to 13

Head to a mystical valley where stardust falls, eat tacos for a great cause, shop local for the holidays + more

1. Holy Crab Brunch — Ongoing

New for December, the West End’s The Holy Crab is offering a new brunch menu alongside its seafood boil. Try a Cajun twist on Vancouver favourites, from poutine with shrimp and lobster claws to crab cake or blackened catfish bennies and lobster grilled cheese. Vegetarian options are also available such as New Orleans style Eggs Sardou with artichoke and creamed spinach.
1588 Robson Street; Saturday & Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Details online

2. Mount Pleasant Food Crawl — Now until December 31

Create your own food crawl for a good cause. AJ’s Brooklyn Pizzeria (325 East Broadway), Como Taperia (201 East 7th Ave) and Main Street Brewing (261 East 7th Ave) are offering a series of specials for the month of December with $1 from each item going towards BabyGoRound, a non-profit that helps new parents with young children.

3. Vallea Lumina — Now until April 2020

Head to Whistler for a whimsical walk through the forest at night as you follow the footsteps of two long-ago hikers, Leonard and Gloria, who are searching for a hidden mystical valley where stardust falls. Experience an enchanting and mesmerizing combination of emotive lights, videos, sounds, and scenography over the course of the 1km long trail. From talking trees and neon nature, Valle Lumina is a magical multi-media experience on Cougar Mountain that was created by Moment Factory and presented by The Adventure Group. 
Shuttle from Whistler Village; $29.99 (adults) & $24.99 (6 – 15, under 5 free); Open from sundown every night; Details online

4. Got Craft? Holiday Edition — Saturday, December 7 & Sunday, December 8

Got Craft? is a curated marketplace that showcases the best in independent craft and design. With an emphasis on handmade products, Got Craft? connects makers and small shops with a conscious community seeking to support local businesses. Held twice a year, each event features 95 vendors, food and drink, music and allegedly the best swag bags in town!
Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Drive; $5.00 at the door or $3.00 online in advance; 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Details online  

5. Tacofino X Bingo Babes at Hastings Commissary — Monday, December 9

Continuing their commitment to give back to communities, Tacofino (Hastings location) will welcome Bingo Babes for a fundaraiser that will see partial proceeds donated to the Environmental Youth Alliance, which cultivates nature experiences for children and youth in urban environments to foster community connections and build ecological leadership skills. With a mashup of 90s hip hop and R&B, bingo games will start at 7 p.m. with Happy Hour specials running until 9 p.m.
Tacofino, 2327 E Hastings St; 7 p.m.; Limited reservations are available by calling 604-253-8226 but reservations are not required

6. Make It Vancouver — Wednesday, December 11 to Sunday, December 15

Featuring more than 250 favourite Makies (and some brand new ones, too!), Make It Vancouver brings beautiful handmade goodies back to the PNE Forum for a fabulous holiday show.  Stock up on accessories, jewellery, clothing, art, home decor, food, baby/kid items, and lots of other beautifully crafted goods. Fuel up with delicious food trucks and a beer garden to enjoy. 
The PNE Forum, 2901 East Hastings St; $10 at the door, kids 12 and under are free ($5 advance); Details online 

7. Music for the Winter Solstice — Wednesday, December 11 to Thursday, December 12

Celebrate the solstice with a Music on Main tradition that’s anything but traditional. Featuring New York-based musicians Caroline Shaw (youngest ever winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Music) and Gabriel Kahane (Book of Travelers, The Ambassador) along with East Vancouver’s Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa.
Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street; $15 to $42; All ages welcome; 8 p.m.; Details online

8. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat — Thursday, December 12 to Tuesday, December 31

Fifty years after Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber began work on what has become one of the most popular musicals in the world, Gateway is pleased to present its production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Traditionally set in Egypt, Gateway brings a twist to the well-known tale setting Joseph in the present-day dream world of a child who, through Joseph’s story, is shown that realizing your dreams takes learning, perseverance, luck and love. 
Gateway Theatre, 6500 Gilbert Road Richmond; From $29; Details online 

9. Arts Umbrella Dance Company (AUDC)’s Mixed Nuts — Friday, December 13 to Sunday, December 15

Based on the beloved holiday favourite The Nutcracker, Mixed Nuts is tradition with a twist—updated with local stories, choreography, and a fantastic musical score. AUDC will not feature the traditional second-act dances (Spanish, Arabian, Chinese, and Russian) but will feature a candy-inspired set, costume design and choreography based around the 1949 board game, Candy Land.
Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton Street; From $25; Details online

10. Caffè La Tana Pop-Up — Friday, December 13 to Sunday, December 15

Commercial Drive’s Caffè La Tana will be popping up to bring a taste of old world Italy to Nordstrom Pacific Centre for three days this holiday season. The celebratory event will bring the caffè’s luxuriously wrapped holiday gift boxes & baskets, as well as a curated selection of Italian specialty goods, from Little Italy right to the heart of the city and North America’s leading luxury department store, tempting holiday shoppers to treat themselves, and their fellow food-lovers, to exquisite edible delights. 
Nordstrom Pacific Centre, Floor 2; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m; Details online