Vancouver Adventures: Our Picks for November 25 to December 1

This week: visit the North Pole in Yaletown, fuel up on fine coffee, design a holiday wreath and more

1. Wells Hill by Action at a Distance — Friday, November 24 to Sunday, November 26

Three years in the making, the world premiere of Wells Hill by Vancouver’s Vanessa Goodman comes to the DanceHouse stage. Seven exceptional dancers splice themes of technology and communication into this intriguing and provocative new work, which is based on the sweeping philosophies of Canadian luminaries Marshall McLuhan and Glenn Gould.
Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre, SFU Gold Corp Centre for the Arts, 149 West Hastings Street, Vancouver; Friday, November 24 and Saturday, November 25 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, November 26 at 2 p.m.; Tickets from $22.05

2. Candytown — Saturday, November 25

Visit Santa in the North Pole (aka Yaletown’s Bill Curtis Square beside the Canada Line Station 12 noon to 3 p.m.) or take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the neighbourhood as part of the annual festive celebration of Candytown. Taste sweet treats, enjoy food trucks, try Christmas crafts, visit the artisan street market, check out the ice sculpture demos or try the self-guided cocktail tour and sip special holiday drinks from Opus Bar, the New Oxford, WildTale, The Distillery and many more.  
Mainland Street in Yaletown, Vancouver; 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Free to attend

3. Vancouver Coins, Stamps and Collectables Show — Saturday, November 25

Buy, sell or trade rare coins from across the world with 40 tables of collectables from ancient coins to stamps, covers, postcards, medals, tokens and bank notes.
Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, 6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Admission $2, Under 16 free

4. Twigonometry Holiday Wreath Workshop — Saturday, November 25

Kickstart the holiday season by creating a lush green wreath to hang in your home. Step-by-step instructions, locally foraged greenery, unique botanicals and seasonal refreshments will get you in a Christmas state of mind. Bring gardening gloves and clippers if you have them.
Twigonometry Studio, Laneway 3964 Dundas Street, Burnaby; 1 p.m.; $95 per person

5. Portobello West Holiday Market — Saturday, November 25 and Sunday, November 26

Pick up presents at the holiday version of Portobello West, with art, fashion, food and jewelry from local artists and crafters. Live music and food trucks provide entertainment whilst shoppers peruse over 90 vendors. Run as a non-profit, the market aims to showcase B.C. and Pacific Northwest makers and is the perfect place to find a gift for a loved one—or for yourself.
Creekside Community Recreation Centre, 1 Athletes Way, Vancouver; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Admission $2

6. Beanstock Vancouver — Sunday, November 26

Love coffee? Celebrate the best independent micro-roasters and ‘third wave coffee’ culture at this new festival, featuring educational sessions from industry professionals, live demos and sampling plus music, local food and drink tastings and a curated coffee and equipment sale. Entry includes unlimited coffee samples, a commemorative mug and a ticket for a sample bag of beans. Premium tickets also include vouchers for specialty food items, a custom tote bag and two additional bags of coffee beans.
298 Alexander Street, Railtown, Vancouver; Various times; Tickets at the door $15 to $45

7. Amplify Her — Tuesday, November 28

Amplify Her is a locally-directed documentary film, graphic novel and animated motion comic series that follows the lives of seven female electronic dance music artists (several with ties to the Vancouver area) as they navigate the challenges of the music world and find their own voices. Directed by award-winning west coast filmmakers Nicole Sorochan and Ian MacKenzie, Amplify Her included more than 21 women in key creative roles—from music producers, to animators, writers, illustrators and more.
Rio Theatre, 1660 East Broadway, Vancouver; Early show at 6 p.m. with doors at 5:30 p.m. features a live performance by c o z y before the screening; $15 to 40 and Late show at 8:30 p.m. with doors at 7:45 pm features a 60-minute performance by Kytami following the screening; $22 to 47

8. Winter’s Dance #onRobson — Friday, December 1 and Saturday, December 2

Check out a short whimsical story about a Snow Queen and her kingdom, produced as a collaboration between the Robson Street Business Association and a local non-profit dance organization, Small Stage. The work will be projected onto the John Robson Building, creating a winter wonderland amidst the hustle and bustle of Robson Street. Performances will be repeated every 15 minutes throughout the evening until 9 p.m. The Snow Queen will take centre stage at 6 p.m. each night.
John Robson Building, 1155 Robson Street, Vancouver; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Free

9. Christmas Queen 4 — Now until Saturday, December 23

The Christmas bitch is back! Join the talented team from Vancouver TheatreSports League for 90 minutes of holiday hilarity. The previous three editions of Christmas Queen saw HRM (Her Royal Meanness) thwarted in her attempts to ruin Christmas and this year will—hopefully—be no different when the Queen and Santa exchange bodies in a Freaky Friday-style magical sleight of hand.
The Improv Centre on Granville Island, 1502 Duranleau Street, Vancouver; Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m, Sunday, December 10 and 17 at 2 p.m.; Tickets from $15.75

10. The Day Before Christmas — Now until Sunday, December 24

Alex is a perfectionist who is desperately holding fast to her Christmas traditions. While juggling family and work—and a movie star—she loses control of her holiday plans, and her home becomes a disaster zone. Can she save the turkey from the dog and salvage a broken-down tree? Find out in this infectious comedy that is sure to make the holidays bright.
Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre, 162 West 1st Avenue, Vancouver; Various times and dates; Tickets from $29