Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for July 14 to 20

This week: celebrate science after dark, head to a Squamish seafood boil, fill up on B.C. beer + more

1. Les Misérables — Tuesday, July 10 to Sunday, July 15

The world’s most popular musical is coming to Vancouver. “Les Mis” will transport you to revolutionary 19th century France with stunning set designs, based on artwork by Victor Hugo. Try to restrain yourself from singing along to the iconic “I Dreamed A Dream” as you become enthralled with the stories of passion, redemption, injustice and—like any good musical—unrequited love.
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 630 Hamilton Street, Vancouver; Various dates and showtimes; Tickets from $133.28

2. Art, Bike, Beer Crawl Brewery Tour and Fundraiser — Saturday, July 14

The Eastside Culture Crawl’s third annual Art, Bike, Beer brewery crawl and fundraiser is your chance to discover some of Vancouver’s best craft breweries and support local art. Enjoy tasting flights as you explore on foot or by bike. As you make your way through East Vancouver, you’ll discover art exhibits at participating breweries, wrapping up at Strange Fellows Brewing where there will be appetizers, more beer and prizes.
Meet at 1000 Parker Street, Vancouver; 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Tickets $55

3. Truck Stop Concert Series — Saturday, July 14

Let loose at Red Truck Beer’s Truck Stop Concert Series, with all the fun of a summer music festival right in the heart of the city. Allen Stone’s “deeply-inspired R&B” will headline, with five other artists jamming out on two stages throughout. With food trucks and plenty of beer, this is one unique summer music experience you won’t want to miss.
Red Truck Beer, 295 East 1st Avenue, Vancouver; 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Tickets $45

4. We Are the Robots and How Do You Carry the Land? — Saturday, July 14 to Sunday, October 28

The Vancouver Art Gallery kicks off their summer with two brand new exhibitions opening this Saturday. British Columbia-based multidisciplinary artist Kevin Schmidt’s exhibition, We Are the Robots, focuses on his exploration of DIY knowledge production and features sculptural pieces and immersive audiophile listening rooms complete with gigantic speakers. The second new exhibit features two artists, Ayumi Goto and Peter Morin, in dialogue. Drawing on colonialism and ancestral histories, the discussion focuses on how we perceive our land and the places we inhabit.
Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver; Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and until 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays; Tickets $24 plus fees per adult

5. Birthday Bash for the Universe — Tuesday, July 17

This incredible family night at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre is a scientific celebration of the birth of the universe! The Vancouver Lego Club will present their space display and budding experts from the UBC Astronomy Club will share their passion for space, physics and astronomy. With crafts, activities, expert talks, the Planetarium Star Theatre Show and observatory viewing, this event—recommended for kids aged 10 and up—is perfect for budding astrophysicists.
H. R. MacMillan Space Centre, 1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver; 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m; Tickets $20 for adults, with kids up to 18 for $15

6. Pride Cocktail Kickoff — Wednesday, July 18

Can’t wait for all the Pride festivities ahead this summer? The Pride Cocktail Kickoff, supporting the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation, is one of the hottest pre-parties for Pride. This event takes place in a secret location somewhere on a rooftop in downtown Vancouver. Expect colourful cocktails like you’ve never seen as you celebrate Pride with friends!
Secret rooftop location, Vancouver; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Tickets $150

7. The Human Ear — Wednesday, July 18 to Wednesday, July 25

Written by playwright Alexandra Wood, The Human Ear received acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2015. Now, Irish theatre company Untold Wants brings this play to the Vancouver stage for its North American premiere. Lucy lost her father in the Gulf War 10 years ago and has just lost her mother in an attack on a city bus. Her brother returns after running away from home a decade ago, but Lucy’s boyfriend—a police liaison officer—thinks that her brother might not be who he says he is. Examining themes of grief, identity, and trust, this eerie drama is a must-see.
Pacific Theatre, 1440 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver; Various times and dates; Tickets $20

8. UBC Chef Challenge — Thursday, July 19

Five exceptional culinary teams from across UBC will pair craft B.C. beer with their creations in the fifth annual UBC Chef Challenge. The East Van Carnival Band will be playing as you sample local delights, with this year’s menu featuring exciting additions like the UBC Food Services team’s blackberry and guajillo BBQ pulled jackfruit taco and Koerner’s braised duck with Caribbean spices on a scallion pancake with UBC farm veggies. (And healthy kids meals are available too.)
The Amphitheatre on the corner of Main Mall and Thunderbird Boulevard at UBC; 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Tickets from $10 to $45

9. Science World After Dark — Thursday, July 19

This adults-only night is your chance to get your hands on all the cool stuff at Science World. Visit the “The Science Behind Pixar” animation exhibit as professionals from the Vancouver Film School guide you through the fascinating and laborious process of animation. Triple O’s will be open late and refreshments will be available so you can spend all night exploring exhibits and galleries without a child in sight.
Science World at TELUS World of Science, 1455 Quebec Street, Vancouver; 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., OMNIMAX at 7 p.m.; Tickets $36, with $6 add-on for the film Pandas

10. Summer at the Sea to Sky Gondola — Thursday, July 19

Go on an adventure just outside of Vancouver and explore the sights of Squamish. BC Transit is offering a new bus route this summer from downtown Squamish to the South Squamish parks, with stops at Shannon Falls, the Sea to Sky Gondola and the Stawamus Chief, making it easier to have fun without worrying about parking. Thursdays at the Sea to Sky Gondola are packed with amazing events like group hikes and their Backyard Seafood Boil, a delicious communal table dining experience featuring fresh local flavours.
Sea to Sky Gondola, 36800 BC99, Squamish; Details online