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Welcome to CBC's Cultural Secrets of Vancouver!
When you think of Vancouver and things we're famous for - Stanley Park, Wreck Beach, towers of glass, Vancouver Specials, coffee shops, sushi etc. – you might think we don't have many secrets. We're an infant city by global standards, we don't have a lot of history and few ghosts.
That's in our favour when it comes to cultural secrets – we're a young city, full of new citizens from around the world, and we're constantly creating new and merging cultural experiences. We asked some of Vancouver's most famous citizens, people who are constantly creating themselves, to reveal some of their favourite Cultural Secrets of Vancouver:
Culture Days
Check out the Culture Days website for a list of activities this year.
Watch
Cultural Secrets of Vancouver aired on CBC Television Thursday September 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Listen
Cultural Secrets of Vancouver aired on CBC Radio's The Early Edition, On The Coast, and North by Northwest on September 24 to October 2nd.
Cultural Secrets Contest Winners
Check out this map of cultural secrets in Vancouver.
Your Cultural Secrets
Vancouver Playhouse
Map
There are exciting cultural experiences in Vancouver but without access to them it is a lost opportunity. The Vancouver Playhouse has a pay-what-you-can Saturday matinee. Kudos for offering everyone an opportunity to experience live theatre.
Silk Purse Gallery
Map
The Silk Purse Gallery, West Vancouver Community Arts Council. Art exhibits and concerts in an intimate sesside setting- the grand piano takes up almost the width of the room.
The Back Room @ Tippers Restaurant
Map
The "back room" at Tippers Restaurant, 2066 Kingsway. Our band has played there: a secret, intimate venue for live music that no one knows about. You can't even see the room when you enter the restaurant. Like a secret meeting room at the back.
Stiff Valentine
Stiff Valentine, Canada's Second Best Band, Ever! http://secondbestcanadianbandever.com/
Cascadia Society for Special Needs Adults
Map
Cascadia Society Day Program for Special Needs Adults. Puts on plays (right now I'm part of the Goethe's Green Snake and Beautiful Lily), but also candles, willow baskets,. Main house is 351 W. 19th St. in North Vancouver.
The End of the Line
Map
Where to get a good latte after your Lynn Loop hike? Never fear "The End of the Line" is here. Situated at the end of Lynn Valley Road, it harks to a time gone by when the trolly car conductor announced "End of the line!" right where it stands.
Cold Reading Series
Link - Facebook Page
The Cold Reading Series (CRS): Vancouver's original live script reading event just wrapped up its 18th season @ the Bill Bishop Legion. Since 1993, CRS has been providing a venue for testing out brand new materials (scripts) every summer.
Vancouver Morris Men
Link - www.vancouvermorrismen.org
My cultural secret is a live one. The Vancouver Morris Men have been performing the traditional rural dance, theatre, and song of England, around Vancouver for the past 26 years.
La Quercia
Map
My cultural secret is La Quercia located on W 4th and Alma. Although the restaurant has received some press lately in the Bon Appetite and Vancouver Magazine, I don't think the place has gotten the recognition it deserves.
Dominik Heins
Pray for sunny weather later in October. That's when Dominik Heins of the Boogie Woogie buskers of 2nd beach and English Bay, will return from Germany to once again park his acoustic piano in the sand. Their music could make the trees dance!
Pacific Theatre
Map
Pacific Theatre, housed in the basement of Holy Trinity Anglican Church at the corner of 12th and Hemlock puts on some of the most fantastic theatre I've seen.
Regional Assembly of Text
Map
Tucked behind a small storefront on Main Street, The Regional Assembly of Text is a tiny cultural gem. A shop, a library, a gallery, an archive and an outlet for creativity where one escapes the impersonal social networking and 140 character limits.
New Design BC
Link - newdesignbritishcolumbia.tumblr.com
New Design British Columbia. A design exhibit showcasing emerging design in furniture, lighting, and the principles of object making. Thur, Sep 29 at Cutty Contemporary Art Gallery 564 Beatty St, Vancouver 7-11pm
Christmas Eve Sing-Along at Railway Club
Map
The Christmas Eve sing-along at the Railway Club with the Hard Rock Miners -this is NOT your traditional carol sing, but lots of great punk and alt-trad songs (think the Ramones and Pogues) belted out by the standing-room only crowd
Japanese Language School of Vancouver
Map
The Japanese Language School holds fundraisers selling homemade food. Live performances by dance and martial arts groups entertain you while you eat. Not many Vancouverites know about it. I go for the food and the acts, for a good cause.
John Reischman and The Jaybirds
Link - www.thejaybirds.com
The Bluegrass band "John Reischman and The Jaybirds" 5 of the world's best musicians. John lives in Vancouver; the bass player Trisha Gagnon in Chilliwack. Largely unknown here, their itinerary for the upcoming year doesn't have one Vancouver gig!
Absolutely Dragulous
Link - www.junctionpub.com
Saturday night's at the Junction. It's a Drag show starring Carlotta Gurl - Vancouver's premier drag performer! It is a blast, especially when she starts turning cartwheels on stage!
The Erato Ensemble
Link - Erato Ensemble
2 amazing singers, Catherine Laub, soprano, and William George, tenor, an art song collective dedicated to giving superb performances to little-heard music (much of it local or Canadian) that features the voice.
Maple Ridge Arts Centre and Theatre complex
Link - www.theactmapleridge.org
My cultural secret is inside - there is a very well-equipped pottery studio (with 20 wheels and several kilns). Maria Palotas, a renowned potter, teaches classes there.
Byng Arts School
Link - Google Street View
It is producing the artists of the future and they are pretty good right now. There are regular performances by the Symphony Orchestra, Theatre Company and art shows in the Gallery. Triple Threat
Napier Square at Britannia Community Centre
Link - Events Calendar
Its stepping stones are handmade and designed by individuals throughout the city - an expression of collective creativity.
Heartbreak House
Link - Heartbreak House
Their haunting sophisticated sound is posed on the brink of cultural favour. Think: Feist, Broken Social Scene, Beirut, Bjork, peace, emotional touchstones, and wild cedar beauty.
Stream of Dreams
Link - www.streamofdreams.org
Fish on chain link fences around schools is a watershed education / community art program. Lots of people have seen fish fences but few (except the kids) know why they are everywhere.
Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral
Link - Supper Menu
On the first Friday of every month, the Cathedral offers a Ukrainian dinner to the public from 5 to 8pm.
David Franklin Marshall
Link - Bio
His sculptures - some in the VanDusen Garden and some shown at Bellevue Gallery, West Van. The pieces are profound and largely unsung.
Contest Winners & Prizes
Winner of Prize package 1:
Daniel Oong of West Vancouver - The Cold Reading Series
Two nights at the historic Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, including traditional afternoon tea for two in 900 West Lounge and a personalized history tour of the hotel.
Two tickets to the Arts Club Theatre's production The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood
Dinner for two at Cloud 9 Revolving Restaurant
Winner of Prize package 2:
Lesley Caves of West Vancouver - The Christmas Eve Sing-Along at the Railway Club
Book, Bed & Breakfast Package at The Listel Hotel including two nights accommodation for two, breakfast for two at O'Doul's Restaurant & Bar, and a copy of the book Vancouver Stories.
A three-course dinner for two paired with British Columbia's finest wines at Lift Bar Grill View.
Exclusive coffee tasting event at Caffè Artigiano.
Winner of Prize package 3:
Lois Klassen of Chilliwack - Boogie Woogie Buskers Dominik Heins and his band
Two nights accommodation at the Pan Pacific Vancouver, with dinner at the hotel's Opera Buffet
Tickets for two to Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
A California Poppy Tall Bowl hand-blown glass art from Robert Held Art Glass.
A year-round family membership for General Admission to Grouse Mountain.