1. Eat at Popina Cantina

Last week Popina Cantina opened at Granville Island’s Net Loft. The specialty taco shop’s menu is definitely drool-worthy: there’s dizi lamb shoulder and chickpeas (pictured), Chinatown pork belly carnitas, lentil falafel and lebneh, tuk tuk green mole chicken and more. If you don’t like tacos (first of all, what’s it like to be wrong?) there’s also queso and cheese and puffcreams—think pretzels and peanut butter, crispy churro crumbs, etc.

More Info: popinacantina.com

2. Check out Word Vancouver

Through September 27

At least we still have books, right? Word Vancouver is western Canada’s largest free literary festival, and this year, it’s (surprise surprise!) online. 140 authors from Vancouver and around the word are participating in over 50 events, including discussions on loss and grief, writing as activism, Indigenous poetry workshops, and storytelling with drag queens. Find the full event schedule here.

When: Now through Sunday, September 27
Where: Online
More Info: wordvancouver.ca

3. Screen VIFF

September 24 to October 7

VIFF’s 39th annual festival features both small live screenings (those tickets are moving fast) and online streaming (only available province-wide—sorry, Albertans). The lineup includes feature films like Monkey Beach directed by Loretta Sarah Todd, shorts like Foam directed by Omar Elhamy (pictured above), and online talks. You’d better stock up on the popcorn.

When: Thursday September 24 to Wednesday October 7
Where: Online
Cost: $60 for all-access subscription
More Info: viff.org/online

4. Be a Culture Vulture

September 25 to October 25

Keep connected to local arts and culture at any BC Culture Days event—it runs for a whole month, so you can certainly fit it into your very busy COVID-era schedule (perhaps between your 2:00 Zoom meeting and 5:00 cry). The events vary from in-person painting and paper-making demonstrations to live-streamed plant ink and comic book workshops, there’s musical recordings and self-guided art tours, and everything is free.

When: Friday September 25 to Sunday October 25
Where: Online and in-person
More Info: culturedays.ca

5. See Transform Cabaret Festival

September 24 to October 3

This festival is all about empowering Indigenous artists and encouraging collaboration with non-Indigenous artists through some very cool performance. It’s online, it’s multidisciplinary, and it’s not technically live (which, as we’ve all come to agree, means that the audio/video quality is going to be a heck of a lot better). Check out burlesque performances from Virago Nation (pictured above), drag from the Darlings, a variety show hosted by comedian Candy Palmater, and more.

When: Thursday September 24 to Saturday October 3
Where: Online
More Info: transformcabaret.com