Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for January 7-13

1. VSO Pops: Soul Unlimited — Friday, January 6 and Saturday, January 7

Get your groove on with soul classics by Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Ray Charles performed by legendary soul singer Ellis Hall and the full Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as part of the popular VSO Pops series of concerts.
Tickets from $25, 8 p.m.
Orpheum Theatre, 601 Smithe Street

2. Vancouver Italian Film Festival — Friday, January 6 to Thursday, January 12

Get a taste of Italy’s finest films at the fourth annual Vancouver Italian Film Festival, featuring classics from Fellini alongside contemporary comedies and indie films from emerging Italian directors.
Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street

3. Campagnolo ROMA and Odd Society dinner — Wednesday, January 11

Chef Jesse McMillan teams up with local distillers Odd Society Spirits to serve up six courses based on the hearty, rustic winter cuisine of Rome, including charred cabbage and squab, all paired with cocktails featuring Odd Society Spirits.
Campagnolo Roma, 2297 East Hastings Street
7 to 10 p.m.; tickets $90 

4. Noodle Mania — Wednesday, January 11

Local blogger Vancouver Foodster’s self-guided tour of Yaletown and East Vancouver’s best noodle stops features your favourite carbs—everything from chow mein to spaghetti, pho and ramen, covering ethnic eateries from all over the world. Pick up your passport and enjoy tasting plates and special dishes at participating restaurants.
Passport pick-up at 2889 East Broadway
6-10 p.m., tickets from $45 plus tax

5. T.I. — Thursday, January 12

Atlanta rapper and actor T.I. comes to The Commodore to share some of the the R&B rap hits from his nine studio albums, including his biggest success, Whatever You Like.
The Commodore Ballroom, 868 Granville Street
8 p.m., tickets start at $55 

6. Strong Female Character — Thursday, January 12 to Saturday, January 28

In this group exhibit, three female artists—Sherri Rogers, Bronwyn Schuster and Mandy Tsung—look at feminine identity, both past and present, as defined within Western culture. Head to Hot Art Wet City on January 13 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. for the opening party to check out the artwork, which includes Mandy Tsung’s series of “Bitchy Resting Face” portraits.
Hot Art Wet City, 2206 Main Street, Vancouver

7. Stomp — Friday, January 13 to Sunday, January 15

New York’s famous orchestra of garbage cans, matchboxes and brooms crashes into the city this month for a three-night stint as part of its North American tour. Experience the electrifying live show of energizing beats and amazing rhythms.
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 630 Hamilton Street; tickets from $55 

8. And Bella Sang With Us — Now until Saturday, January 14

Stella Stubb’s popular play from the 2016 Vancouver Fringe Festival tells a reimagining of two historical figures—Constables Lurancy Harris and Minnie Miller, Vancouver’s first women police officers—in this darkly comic musical tale.
Firehall Arts Centre, 280 East Cordova Street
Tickets from $24 ($36 including a walking tour with local historian John Atkins); see online for detailed show times and ticket listings

9. Lights at Lafarge — Now until Sunday, January 22

Keep the festive spirit alive with a visit to Coquitlam’s Lafarge Lake to see 100,000 twinkling lights illuminate the lakeside. The 1.2-kilometre loop features 10 themed zones along the way, or check out the dazzling 30-foot high Christmas tree at the Burlington Street entrance to City Hall and Spirit Square.
Lafarge Lake, Guildford Way and Pinetree Way
Dusk until 11 p.m. daily

10. Park Run — Every Saturday

New Year, new you? Get some help sticking to those resolutions and join in the international weekly timed 5km Park Runs in Richmond. Free to take part, the timed runs begin on the riverside footpath near the intersection of Cambie Street and River Road and follow a 2.5-kilometre path south-westwards beside the Fraser River before looping back again.
9 a.m., Saturdays at the intersection of Cambie Street and River Road