Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for January 26 to February 2

Fine tune your photo skills, flip for acrobatics, pick the perfect prom dress + more

1. Vancouver Short Film Festival – Friday, January 25 & Saturday, January 26

From the trials of adolescence to tales of horror and space travel, the short films at this festival cover a wide range of genres and subject matter, all created by West Coast short film, video and animation makers.
Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver; Various times; Details online

2. Global Game Jam – Friday, January 25 to Sunday, January 27

Part of the international Global Game Jam taking place across the world, the Vancouver edition sees jammers work in teams to design, develop, test and make a new game in the time span of only 48 hours. Meals are included in the ticket, including a pizza party on Saturday night.
Vancouver Film School, 88 East Pender Street, Vancouver; $35 to 125; Tickets online

3. Prom and Evening Dress Pop-Up – Friday, January 25 to Sunday, January 27

Choose from more than a thousand prom and evening dresses, priced from $69 to 399 and offered at up to 80 percent off retail prices. Paid tickets include a $10 gift card.
Lipont Place, 4211 No. 3 Rd, Richmond; $2 for students; Tickets online

4. I Heart Tulips – Saturday, January 26

I Heart Tulips brings a one-day installation of 10,000 live red and white tulips to the Grand Court at Metropolis at Metrotown in support of Variety Children’s Charity. Sponsored by Onos Greenhouses, along with Tulips of the Valley (which runs both Chilliwack’s tulip and sunflower festivals each year), the installation will be arranged in the shape of a red heart surrounded by white, forming an awe-inspiring floral tapestry. Visible from all three levels of the mall, the event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with children supported by Variety able to pick tulips from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. After 1:30 p.m., the public can pick tulips to bring home—with a minimum donation of $5 for five flowers—until all of the 10,000 tulips have been picked.
Metropolis at Metrotown, 4700 Kingsway, Burnaby; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Free admission, with minimum donation to pick flowers; Details online

5. Urban Leaf Pop-Up at Soil – Saturday, January 26

Enjoy a four-course meal with Vancouver’s first 100 percent plant-based catering company at Blue Heron Creamery’s new cafe Soil, complete with optional drink pairings. Choose from two seatings at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Soil, 2408 Main Street, Vancouver; $70; Tickets online

6. Beer and a Curry — Sunday, January 27

As well as being the wrap party for the Smash Comedy Fest, this edition of Beer and a Curry includes one Lupollo beer, one vegetarian and one meat curry, plus sides for all diners.
Luppolo Brewing Co., 1123 Venables Street, Vancouver; $35; Tickets online

7. Street Photography Workshop – Sunday, January 27

Run by National Geographic photographer Massimo Bassano, in partnership with professional photographer Myriam Casper, this workshop teaches the skill of “street photography” to help students master the art of everyday portraits.
Theater 105 at Vancouver Film School, 151 West Cordova Street, Vancouver; 10:30 a.m.; $225; Tickets online

8. Women in Tech Regatta — Monday, January 28 to Saturday, February 1

Connecting women in tech to mentors, peers and resources, this conference is open to all levels and genders and includes two-hour workshops each including a one-hour panel discussion and a one-hour small group activity. Based at five “ports” around the city, the 30 themed workshops cover subjects from leadership and start-ups to career acumen and inclusive culture.
Various times and locations; Details online

9. Brewchella Craft Beer Launch – Wednesday, January 30

Proceeds from this new beer launch go to the Canucks Autism Network, so head to Craft Beer Market and try some of the 30 new beers… for a good cause. Live beats and light eats will also be on offer.
Craft Beer Market Vancouver, 85 West 1st Avenue, Vancouver; 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; $5; Tickets online

10. Rick and Morty Trivia 2 – Thursday, January 31

Featuring pizza and prizes, the Rick and Morty trivia event returns to the Biltmore for a night of fun. The grand prize is a full-colour portrait of the winning team by an official Rick and Morty artist.
Biltmore Cabaret, 2755 Prince Edward Street, Vancouver; 19 plus; 7:30 p.m.; $13; Tickets online

11. Vancouver Acro Fest Winter – Saturday, February 1 to Sunday, February 3

Acrobatic fans of all ability levels can develop skills and learn new things from original L-base content and standing acrobatics, to Icarian games, handstands and therapeutics.
St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Centre, 3150 Ash Street, Vancouver; $90 to 270; Tickets online