Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for January 14-20

1. Bark-making Class – Saturday, January 14

What New Year’s resolutions?! Keep up the sugary high of the holidays with a chocolate bark-making class with the master chocolatiers from Purdys. Choose from nuts, dried fruits and other crunchy bits to add to your chocolate bark.
1 p.m. to 3 p.m., $30-60
Purdys Chocolatier South Granville, 2705 Granville Street

2. Gluten Free Expo – Saturday, January 14 and Sunday, January 15

Sample gluten-free goodies—from beer and bread to perogies and pizza—at Canada’s largest gluten-free expo. Leading experts, such as doctors and dieticians, will be offering healthy lifestyle advice, and cooking demos will show celiacs and other gluten-free guests how to prepare tasty dishes.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 999 Canada Place

3. Le Chat Noir – Wednesday, January 18

Doing Dry January? Try this dry version of a Paint & Sip night and enjoy hot chocolate or warm apple cider while you take part in a step-by-step painting class.
7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Tickets $35; Braid Studios, 100 Braid Street, New Westminster

4. Unpacking Art – Thursday, January 19

SFU Gallery’s new speaker series, Unpacking Art, focuses on a single work from the SFU Art Collection and will “unpack” this work out of storage as well as “unpack” its significance. Bryan Myles, manager and acting director at The Bill Reid Centre is the first speaker in this lunchtime series.
12:30 p.m., SFU Burnaby campus
Academic Quadrangle 3004

5. After Hours at Vancouver Aquarium – Thursday, January 19

Heating things up with a tropical theme, the Vancouver Aquarium’s first After Hours of 2017 focuses on warmer climes with talks on what it really feels like to be stung by tropical corals, plus a chance to stroke the stingrays. Booze and food are available to keep guests extra cozy.
Vancouver Aquarium, 845 Avison Way, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Tickets: Members $23; non-members $31 (advanced sales only); 19+

6. Harry Potter Burlesque – Thursday, January 19

See your favourite Harry Potter characters in a whole new light at the Rio Theatre. Following a successful run at The Biltmore, the dancers are back to put some magic in your wizard wand this winter.
Doors 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.
Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door. 19+

7. Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival – Thursday, January 19 to Tuesday, February 14

 Vancouver’s seventh annual celebration of all things cocoa sweetens up the winter months with limited edition hot chocolates at participating cafés and restaurants. Last year’s festival offered up 59 different flavours.
See website for locations and details

8. Dine Out Vancouver Festival – Friday, January 20 to Sunday, February 5

It’s time for Dine Out! Choose from $20, $30 and $40 menus at over 270 restaurants or check out one of the special culinary events—from pop-up restaurants at the Vancouver Aquarium to craft beer and taco tours and world chef exchanges.
Visit the website for reservations and more event info.

9. Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo – Friday, January 20 and Saturday, 21

New York’s ‘Les Trocks’ troupe of cross-dressing all-male ballet dancers is back for highbrow hilarity with its parody of classic ballets including Swan Lake, La Esmeralda, and Don Quixote. Founded by a group of professional dancers in 1974, the New York-based company has performed in more than 30 countries and 500 cities worldwide.
8 p.m.; tickets $29-$129
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 600 Block Hamilton Street

10. The Motorcycle Show – Friday, January 20 to Sunday, January 22

From stunt-riding demos to a kids’ riding school, The Motorcycle Show features a celebration of all things two-wheeled and a range of exhibitors selling kit for riders. Ladies get in half price after 5 p.m. on Friday as part of the SHE Rides initiative to encourage female riders.
Friday 12 to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tradex, Abbotsford; tickets $13 (advance), $15 on door