Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for January 18 to 24

Brush up on your hip-hop knowledge, indulge in all things hot and chocolately + more

1. House and Home — Now until January 25

Penned by award-winning playwright Jenn Griffin and directed by Firehall Arts Centre’s artistic producer, Donna Spencer, House and Home is a biting, comedic take on Vancouver’s current real estate crisis where property values are high, rental vacancy rates are low, and owning your own home is unaffordable for the average home buyer. Hilary, a waitress/poet turned social worker and Henry, a Butoh dancer turned lawyer, didn’t know how lucky they were when they managed to escape bad roommates and buy a house before the real estate market skyrocketed. Finding themselves house rich and cash poor, they abandon their values and plunge into the world of short-term rentals. How far can they go to keep their house? 
Firehall Arts Centre, 280 East Cordova Street, Vancouver; Various showtimes; Tickets from $20 online

2. Hot Chocolate Festival — Saturday, January 18 to Friday, February 14

Celebrating its 10th year, Vancouver’s Hot Chocolate Festival has grown into a huge celebration of all things hot and chocolately. This year, 44 “chocstar” chocolatiers, pastry shops, bakeries, cafes, gelato and ice cream makers are taking part with a whopping 114 different flavours to warm you up this winter. 
Various locations, times and costs; Details online

3. Cold Reading Series — Monday, January 20

The Vancouver Public Library’s first screenwriter-in-residence, Ken Hegan presents a special “cold reading series” featuring scripts from the UBC Creative Writing Program, as performed by professional actors. Actors will be cast on the spot and should arrive at 5:30 p.m. to sign in.
Montablano Theatre (Level 8) at Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia Street, Vancouver; Casting at 5:30 p.m., with showtime at 8 p.m.; Details online

4. Flow to Slow Yoga — Monday, January 20 to Monday, February 24

Start your Monday mornings off right with an energizing, relaxing yoga practice that takes place in a VanDusen classroom… with gorgeous garden views.The first portion of class moves you through a gentle flow of active, dynamic postures to wake up your muscles and get the blood flowing, before winding down to a slower pace, holding postures to help nourish your joints, relax your mind and release tension. Appropriate for beginners or experienced students alike. Bring a yoga mat and towel or light blanket. 
VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak Street, Vancouver; Drop-in admission is $18 for VanDusen members, with non-members $20; 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; Details online

5. GZA — Monday, January 20

Want to feel old? It’s 25 years since Wu Tang Clan’s GZA released his solo venture Liquid Swords. Catch him at The Commodore (moved from the previous location at Fortune Sound Club) as part of his North American tour. 
The Commodore Ballroom, 868 Granville Street, Vancouver; 7 p.m.; Tickets $53.50; Details online

6. Hip Hop Trivia at Juke Fried Chicken — Tuesday, January 21

Whether you’re a Biggie or a Tupac fan, all Eyez are on Juke Fried Chicken when the Chinatown location of the chicken-and-rib joint (182 Keefer Street) hosts Hip Hop Trivia on the third Tuesday of every month. Teams of up to six are invited to take part in five rounds of questions on all things Hova, Dre and Wu-Tang with food and drink specials and prizes up for grabs. 
Juke Fried Chicken, 182 Keefer Street, Vancouver; 7 p.m.; Sign up as an individual or a team of up to six via email (info@jukefriedchicken.com), Instagram or Facebook to guarantee a spot; Walk-ins also welcome

7. Blizzard — Thursday, January 23

Warm up with a hot circus show as Blizzard by Flip Fabrique takes you on a crazy, poetic and gentle journey in the dead of winter, and invites you to lose yourself in a moment of complete wonder. With performers at the peak of their art and outstanding visual poetry, Blizzard promises to blow away everything in its path.
Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 630 Hamilton Street, Vancouver; Tickets from $35; 8 p.m.; Details online

8. Hunks — Thursday, January 23

Winnipeg sketch comedy group and Just For Laughs NorthWest veterans, Hunks will be hitting the stage at the Havana Theatre for one night of laughs as part of a western mini-tour culminating in two appearances at the prestigious SF Sketchfest in San Francisco. Hunks are four intelligent people who make each other dumber. Their names are Dana Smith, Rory Fallis, Tim Gray and Matt Nightingale. Joining them on stage will be long-time friends, Graham Clark (Stop Podcasting Yourself, CBC’s The Debaters), and Vancouver improv and sketch comedy favourites, Hip.Bang! (CBC’s Just for Laughs).
Havana Theatre, 1212 Commercial Drive, Vancouver; Tickets $15; 8 p.m.; Details online

9. The Dalmore Chinese New Year Dinner at Origo Club — Thursday, January 23

Richmond’s Origo Club will pay early homage to two big celebrations in January—Robbie Burns Day and Chinese New Year—when it hosts The Dalmore Chinese New Year dinner. The evening will feature special guest, The Dalmore ambassador Louis-Jérôme Doise, as well as a six-course scotch pairing dinner, prepared by chef David Pan to mark the Year of the Rat and the upcoming birthday of Scottish poet Robert Burns. 
Origo Club, 110 – 6888 River Road, Richmond; 6:30 p.m.; Tickets $220, inclusive of taxes and gratuity (and a taste of the prized The Dalmore 25-year-old scotch) and available online

10. Smash Comedy Festival — Thursday, January 23 to Saturday, January 25

Produced by Nasty Women Comedy, the second annual Smash Comedy Festival is a three-day comedy festival spotlighting Vancouver’s best and brightest women/trans/femme/plus performers. Smash Comedy Festival is guaranteed to be a hilarious time, combining wildly funny, feminist-forward comedy from an elite squad of sketch, improv and stand-up comedians. There will also be writing and improv workshops, dance parties and killer drag performances, all in support of sending underrepresented kids to Improv Camp later this year.
Various locations, dates and times; Details online