Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for May 19 to 25

This week: stroll through Mount Pleasant’s art world, smarten up at the Fox + more

1. Tyrant Studios: Summer Lounge Series – Friday, May 18 to Sunday, May 20

Celebrating the opening of Tyrant Studios, a new space above the historic Penthouse Nightclub, the Summer Lounge Series kicks off with Friday night jazz, followed by comedy at The Comic Strip every Saturday and variety performances at The Goblin Cabaret on Sunday nights.
Tyrant Studios, 1019 Seymour Street, Vancouver; Various times and prices: Details and tickets online

2. Cloverdale Rodeo – Friday, May 18 to Monday, May 21

Four days of family fun can be found at the Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair. Back again for its 72nd year, one of North America’s longest-running rodeos will feature live entertainment, fun and food for all the family, as well as competitions for the best cowboys and cowgirls.
Cloverdale Fairgrounds, Surrey; Friday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday & Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tickets from $10

3. Vortex – Friday, May 18 onwards

Renowned author and visual artist Douglas Coupland brings a radical new art installation to the Vancouver Aquarium, as part of an Ocean Wise initiative to highlight the dangers of plastic. Vortex is Coupland’s imaginative interpretation of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and the focal point is a 50,000-litre water installation that includes a battered boat from Japan, lost during the tsunami in 2011 and found on the shores of Haida Gwaii in 2017. The crew—a collection of four realistic and fantastical characters—are adrift in waves, mist and marine debris collected from the province’s shorelines.
Vancouver Aquarium, 845 Avison Way, Vancouver; General admission tickets from $39 per adult

4. A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Saturday, May 19

Set to the exquisite music of Felix Mendelssohn, this full-length ballet version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream showcases the prodigious talents of the Lower Mainland’s finest young dancers in Coastal City Ballet’s season finale. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a tale of magic, mischief and mistaken identity, featuring classic characters such as the Fairy King and Queen and Puck. (A second performance takes place on June 8th at the Surrey Arts Centre.)
Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton Street, Vancouver; 8 p.m.; Tickets from $29.95

5. VanCAF 2018 – Saturday, May 19 & Sunday, May 20

Vancouver Comic Arts Festival is a two-day celebration of all things comic and graphic novel-related. Attend readings, panels and workshops, or check out the exhibition and vendors fair, which features work by hundreds of comic creators.
Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Details online

6. ABB-urlesque – Sunday, May 20

It’s disco time! Get out your spandex, sequins and bell-bottoms for a disco-fabulous burlesque tribute to the magic of ABBA, featuring the Hot & Heavy Band with Cass King and Burgundy Brixx. Kitty Nights closes out their 10th anniversary season with this nod to the Swedish pop heroes.
Biltmore Cabaret, 2755 Prince Edward Street, Vancouver; Doors 8 p.m.; Tickets $12 to 15

7. Victoria Day at Trout Lake – Monday, May 21

Have a royally good time with all the family this Victoria Day by heading to Trout Lake for a bouncy castle, arts and crafts, games and more family-friendly fun in the sun.
Trout Lake Community Centre, 3360 Victoria Drive, Vancouver; 10 a.m. to Noon; Free admission

8. Nerd Nite v. 36 – Wednesday, May 23

Geeks unite for an informative evening of fun and learning, with topics ranging from the history of drag to the future of AI and robots in education… plus a side serving of conservation finance thrown in for good measure.
Fox Cabaret, 2321 Main Street, Vancouver; 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Tickets $7 to 15

9. ROVE – Friday, May 25

Once a year, the local artists in Mount Pleasant open their doors for an art walk evening of exploring the galleries, art studios and creative spaces in the Main Street neighbourhood. Pick a starting location along the route and head there to pick up a Rove map to start your art adventure.
Various locations; 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Free admission

10. Arts of Resistance – Until October 8

Museum of Anthropology at UBC presents the powerful exhibition, Arts of Resistance: Politics and the Past in Latin America, which illustrates how Latin American communities use traditional and historic art forms to express contemporary political realities. Featuring art and multi-sensory installations from Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, El Salvador, Ecuador and Chile, and paying special attention to marginalized communities, Arts of Resistance explores the role of creativity during times of political turmoil.
Museum of Anthropology, 6393 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver; Various times but closed Mondays; Tickets $18