Soar Over Taiwan!

Who needs a vacation? Well you don't have to go much further than Canada Place and hop on board the new Soar Over Taiwan ride that is on now just in time for the Lunar New Year!

It's a beautiful journey into this corner of the world, where you'll witness open waters, mountain peaks, endless fields, and big cities. It really did feel like a mini escape from the rainy Vancouver day we were experiencing.

You can check out the newest adventure from the Flyover group now until February 17!

David Wojnarowicz

I am so excited that the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery up at UBC is currently showing an exhibit on aritst David Wojnarowicz with a focus on his photography and film. For those who don't know him, he was a contemporary of Keith Haring and was also a prominent AIDS activist and artist in New York City during the 80s. He eventually died of AIDS in 1992.

I did manage to pop into the Belkin for a quick walkabout, but I knew I needed to go back and really immerse myself into the works. Fortunately, we have until April 5 to check it out!

The David Wojnarowicz : Photography and Film 1978-1992 is on now at the Belkin Gallery at UBC until April 5.

Vancouver Christmas Market

It's that time of year again! The annual Vancouver Christmas Market! Tis the season!

I can't wait to visit and get some mulled wine and check out all the wares.

Some deals this year include:

• $10 Tuesdays on Dec. 3, 10 & 17: In celebration of the 10th anniversary season, every Tuesday will feature admission to the market for just $10.

• Deluxe Date Nights on Nov. 27, Dec. 4 & 11 (from 5pm): Share magical evenings with your friend or loved one at our Deluxe Date Nights! Guests are invited to enjoy 2-for-1 admission (can be purchased at the gate) and also includes 2-for-1 non-alcoholic drinks and carousel rides.

• Kids Day on Dec. 1: Join Holly & Jolly for a day of family fun! Youth (12 and under) can enjoy admission and carousel rides by donation to Children's Wish by making a donation to take a photo with Gingerbread Mascots Holly & Jolly, everyone's favourite princesses from Enchanted Events Vancouver and Santa Claus himself!
  
• Holly & Jolly Combo:
  They've partnered with friends at FlyOver Canada to create the ultimate festive experience! With the Holly & Jolly Combo, you can fly like Santa and his elves on a magical flight across Canada and on to the North Pole, and then sample the authentic German sweets, treats, and treasures on offer at the Vancouver Christmas Market. To learn more, visit: vancouverchristmasmarket.com/activity/holly-jolly-combo/

Flyover Christmas Canada!

Here's a festive thing to do this holiday season! Check out Flyover Canada where you can fly like Santa and his reindeers!

In addition to the magical flight, you can also enter to win a real life getaway!

Win a Weekend in Banff!

Share your experience at FlyOver Canada on Instagram for your chance to win a weekend getaway to Banff.

The prize includes a two-night stay at the Mount Royal Hotel and four passes to the Banff Gondola.

To enter, follow @FlyOverCanada on Instagram and be sure to tag @FlyOverCanada and use #PursuitLife in your caption. We will announce the winner on Monday, December 2.

The Irishman

My friend was super stoked to go see the latest Scorcese film in a theatre, rather than on Netflix.

So we went to the Vancity theatre, where it was being shown. We caught the second last night that it was running after having been on for a few weeks by now. Yet still, it was a sold out crowd and a standby line had started! This is a movie available on Netflix, yet all these people chose to go out to the cinema for it. How wonderful!

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy the movie all that much. It wasn't terrible, but it just wasn't that great. At least not enough to justify the over 3+ hour running length! I was trapped in the middle of a row and really didn't want to disturb my fellow theatre-goers, who all seemed to be enjoying the movie. Anyhow, I sat through it all and I'll never get that time back.

The acting was great and it was cool to see how they made actors like Robert DeNiro look young again, but the story wasn't that intriguing to me and didn't really capture my attention.

If you're a Jimmy Hoffa fanatic however, you will probably love it!

The King

I know this movie is on Netflix currently, but nothing beats the big screen. Timothée Chalamet stars as Henry V in this period piece that focuses on his ascension to the throne. It's an epic filled with battles on the battlefield and sweeping shots of the English countryside that should not be relegated to your home television (though, these days, many home televisions may rival theatre screens in their own right).

But still, the whole theatregoing experience is worth it, and this film is a great opportunity to witness that in action.

The King is playing now at the Vancity Theatre.

Frankenstein: Lost in Darkness

What a fitting play for the Halloween season! More than that though, this is a radio play done on stage. It's fascinating to watch as the actors voice the characters while also creating sound effects to help build the world where Frankenstein inhabits.

Corina Akeson is wonderfully tormented as the tortured Dr. Frankenstein who is ashamed and afraid after creating the creature. We watch as the doctor's world falls apart and delves deep into despair. 

Diana Squires juggles a few hats, with sound effect duty and also playing the roles of Elizabeth, the doctor's betrothed and the sea captain who comes to save the doctor lost at sea. The production has the microphones set up so that you know when an actor is playing a different role, but Squires' performances are nuanced enough to help the audience differentiate. 

Matthew Simmons also juggles a cornucopia of characters and provides much of the sound effects for the show, which was absolutely intriguing to watch. At times, I would close my eyes to just treat this like a radio play I would be listening to at home.

Then of course we have Tariq Leslie, who plays the monster. With his deep baritone voice, he manoeuvres back and forth between the monster's internal dialogue of loneliness and his outward appearance of a monstrous beast.

The show's elevated dialogue is done by Peter Church, while direction is by Chris Lam (who stage managed last year's immersive Sweeney Todd!)


This audio drama is a unique theatrical experience and Vancouver, you are lucky to be witnessing the world premiere right here in our city! Go check out Frankenstein: Lost in Darkness at Pacific Theatre now until Nov 2.