Out in Vancouver Nov 24 - Dec 1 with Tom Coleman

Galactic aliens, underground queer hip hop parties, sock hops and bright lights - it all starts with Candytown! Tom dishes it all this week -

Saturday, Nov 24

7th Annual Candytown

Hey mister, want to try a stick of candy? Get into the holiday spirit early and check out all the hot daddies at this free outdoor Christmas festival which will transform Mainland, Hamilton and Davie streets into a winter wonderland. Lights and candy canes will adorn lamp poles. Holiday shoppers are invited to start their seasonal gift buying in Yaletown with local merchants as well as a specialty market carrying unique gifts and holiday treats. Stilt walkers and roaming holiday characters will interact with revellers, to the wonderment of tots – while live music and carolling will set the stage for Yuletide cheer.  Last year, an estimated 15,000 people came out to Candytown to kick off the holidays.

12—7pm. Yaletown, foot of Davie St and Pacific Boulevard. Free entrance. Candytown

Gay And Grey Coffee Group

As all us men age and get grey, some faster than others. Here is a gay men's discussion coffee group exploring the many issues arising from aging; and planning for/living "after retirement". Getting older doesn’t mean life stops for us: get out, get involved and remember 65 is the new 40!

1—3pm.  #101-649 Helmecken St. Just off Granville.

Three Times Three

Three local playwrights bring their plays to the XY Stage. Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls by the amazing Dave Deveau, starring Sarah Watson, Rae Takaesu, and Dave Deveau. Mink by Lucia Frangione and Who's On Book by Benjamin Ratner starring Jay Brazeau, Bill MacDonald, Justin Elliott Ramsey, and Alison Wandzura. Best of all you get to see all three amazing plays for one price.

7—9pm. XYYVR, 1216 Bute St. Tickets $20 available online at Three Times Three

Man Up: Face Face Face

The rule is, no rules, as the drag things bring you their weirdest, flawlessest, most wonderful drag faces and performances centred around sick beats and you bring an open mind, and full readiness to party. Drag & face by some of the city’s best including Jem, vixen, Shay, Rich Elle and many more.

9pm—2am. The Warehouse at Eastside Studios, 550 Malkin Ave. Cover $10 before 10pm, $15 after. Face Face Face

Spank 14

I have to admit being spanked by Matt troy has fired up more than a few dying brain cells but alas this is more a Berlin party experience than a personal fantasy. SPANK is a notorious pan-sexual multi-area fetish party where anything goes, and all are welcome! Specially-curated fetish only zones! Wild and intimate spaces for everyone! Added sound and lighting. A massive coalition of music, art & kink aficionados, attendees & DJs from all corners of the underground scenes of the city, united for one night of sweat, fun, pleasure & pain. If you want to play, we welcome you to drop your inhibitions and come get freaky in the giant SPANK playground as Vancouver Art and Leisure and Sin City Fetish Night present SPANK 14.

10pm—3am. Vancouver Art & Leisure, 494 Railway St. Tickets $20--$30 at Spank 14

Sunday, Nov 25

Ruff Playhouse

A famous strip, club, a stripper pole, over a dozen naked men, private lap dance rooms, and me sitting front row wearing a bib to catch all my drool, and my friend Sydney wearing his opera glasses for the close up shot: what more could you want from a Sunday. Along with emcee Gingerbear and the men of Ruff it is a fun night of debauchery with a 99% male variety show and RUFF/Inked Kenny 2019 calendar launch benefitting HIM.

4—8pm. The Penthouse, 1019 Seymour St. Tickets $30 at Little Sisters, 1238 Davie St and online at Playhouse

Baby It’s Cold Outside: Sock Hop

Host Chris Topper, local drag king, is jazzed to be joining the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence for an evening of dance and fun and helping out two important local causes. Dance instruction from Not So Strictly Ballroom Queer Dance`s Pat Hogan and Trevor Jason. Performances by Ivan Ben Dover - queer rocker, Alma Bitches, and more.

6:30—9:30pm. The Junction, 1138 Davie St. Entry by donation. Baby It's Cold Outside

Making Spirits Bright

No, I do not have my dates wrong, this is a pre-Vancouver show of the Vancouver Men’s Chorus amazing yearly Christmas concert. Take a musical journey with this internationally acclaimed chorus as they sing about their stories, idols and icons, struggles and triumphs while promoting community spirit and a positive image of the gay community in an extraordinary show. Delighting audiences for more than 30 years with songs ranging from Cole Porter and Noel Coward, through Boy George and George Michael right up to Frank Ocean and Sam Smith.

7:30—10pm. Hub International Theatre, 9201 Corbould St, Chilliwack., Tickets $30--$35 at Vancouver Men's Chorus

Monday, Nov 26

Dick Safari: Amateur Strip

Hosted by The king of Dicks: Del Stamp & The Queen of Dicks: Alma Bitches with back up support from Rob Feller. Do you want to win some money for Christmas: imagine telling mom you got her present by having the best dick in the show, she will be so proud? Are you courageous enough to bare it all, remember Alma can get very handsy? Cash prizes available for 1st & 2nd + giveaways from Steamworks. A fun night for all.

11pm. The Junction, 1138 Davie St. Cover $5. Dick Safari

Tuesday, Nov 27

Queer & Trans Youth Drop In

A safe place for all LGBTQ2S+ and questioning youth ages 13-18 where the itinerary is flexible, and they hope to work with participants to form a program that is most interesting to them! In addition, they will be starting each drop-in with some free time or loosely structured activities in order to accommodate folks traveling from outside of the West End.

3pm.West End Community Centre Association, 870 Denman St. Free attendance. Drop In

History Of LGBTQ Activism In Surrey

Did you know LGBTQ activism began in Surrey more than twenty years ago? Please join James Chamberlain, Martin Rooney, Alex Sangha, Jen Marchbank, a representative of Youth for a Change and moderator Elise Chenier for an evening of presentations and discussion. Participating organizations include EPAMA (Empire of the Peace Arch Monarchist Association), Sher Vancouver, Surrey Pride Society and Youth for A Change.

6:30—9pm. SFU Surrey, 250-13450 102nd Ave, Surrey. A free event but please register at LGBTQ Activism

Pop Queen: Club Class

Pop Queen Cardio goes to the club for the second time! Same great class with club vibes. Music, lights and a sweaty party - what more could you want. No dance experience necessary! Bring fitness attire, it is gonna be a sweaty workout.

6:30—7:30pm. XYYVR, 1216 Bute St. Sign up at Pop Queen

Wednesday, Nov 28

Flex Fit

Holidays are coming, tourists are in town and you need to be fit and flexible, not like a stuffed turkey. This class combines muscle strengthening and stretching exercises such as push-ups, squats, yoga, basic Pilates, core exercises, and resistance band training. They recommend wearing sneakers and athletic wear for this weekly all levels class. Don’t forget a towel and a bottle of water.

6—7pm. Scotiabank Dance Centre, 4th floor, 677 Davie St. For more information or to register, please phone 604-488-1001 or email register@checkhimout.ca.  Flex Fit

Thursday, Nov 29

Bright Nights

Perfect for a holiday date night, unless you are 6’7 and then you just look like the friendly giant on the lookout for a lost Jerome. Bright Nights Christmas Train and Stanley Park Train Plaza sparkle with three million twinkling lights, really, I counted them. Experience the lights, breathtaking displays, and live performers along the train route. or view the displays at the Train Plaza by donation.

Matinee train is 10am—230pm daily, night train runs 3—10pm daily until Saturday, Jan 5. Pipeline Road in Stanley Park, via the West Georgia Street park entrance. Parking is free compliments of Vancouver Park Board. Train tickets are $6.30 Matinee, $8.40--$12.60 Night Train. Bright Nights

Friday, Nov 30

World AIDS Day Luncheon

A Loving Spoonful's World AIDS Day luncheon, presented by BMO Bank of Montreal, is an annual luncheon and afternoon of luxury featuring: indulgent cuisine, elegant décor and some of the most precious and unique items presented in the Silent and Live auctions.

11:30am—2pm. Terminal City Club, 837 Hastings St. Tickets $180 available online at AIDS Day Luncheon

Check Your Stash

Know if what you have is safe. HIM is providing free, weekly, confidential drug checking services and all you have to do is bring in your drug of choice to have it checked for fentanyl and other components using fentanyl test strips and a spectrometer operated by Vancouver Coastal Health. HIM has received designation from Vancouver Coastal Health to allow for illicit substances to be checked at our Davie Health Centre. Don’t worry, only a very small amount of your sample – like a grain of sand – will be needed for the drug check.

5—8pm. #416-1033 Davie St. Check Your Stash

BPM: Beats Per Minute

In recognition of World AIDS Day, see a screening of BPM, winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes: A film about love. A film about life. Life stronger than death. A film as a glimpse of hope, a drama focusing on the extraordinary activism of the ACT UP movement in France in the early 1990s. 

6:30—11pm. SFU Woodward’s, 149 West Hastings St. Tickets $5.85--$11.10 at Beats Per Minute

Storytelling With Drag Queens For Adults

Stories, sassiness, hilarity, songs and probably even more games await you this evening, another not to be missed event. Surprises too! Featuring the amazing Tommi Horror, Tara B, Gay Sha, Candie and friends, come help party it up, tonight’s theme is The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

9—11:30pm. Café Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial Dr. Entrance by donation. Storytelling With Drag Queens

Level Up

East Van's Newest, Hottest, Underground Queer Rap & Hip Hop Party. Come thru: Get down and Level up. Featuring an all Femme DJ lineup with Softieshan, zam zam and habibi caramel princess along with a bevy of smoking hot drag icons.

9pm—2am. The Clubhouse, 238 East 1st Ave. Cover $12 but no one turned away for lack of funds. Level Up

Galactic Alien Party

Would you like a party out of this world? You can at the last Partyfunvan theme party. Dancing between UFOs, astronauts, aliens, and stars is much more fun than regular human night clubs, so put your helmet on, silver outfit, or human jeans and come to spend a fun winter night. Dress Code (not mandatory): Use your imagination to bring yourself in a galactic, cosmic, alien, spacey outfit to impress and have fun.

10pm—3am. XYYVR, 1216 Bute St. Cover $6. Galactic Alien Party

Saturday, Dec 1

Duelling DJs Annual Christmas Dinner & Dance

An early Christmas present so don’t miss out. Dinner, dancing, ladies and fun. Kick off your holiday season right. Lift a glass and give a holiday toast to a long remembered Susan Yaeger.

Doors 6pm, Dinner 7pm, Dancing til midnight. The Sands Best Western Hotel, 1755 Davie St. Tickets $55 and info at Duelling DJs