Things to do in Vancouver this week: October 11–17
aespa brings K-pop to Rogers Arena on Sunday; Joanne McNally's stand-up comedy closes the week at the Orpheum; live music and Vancouver's dining scene heat up as a new Michelin-starred restaurant and Granville Island's Burdy settle in.
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Sunday is your golden ticket this week—clear skies and a 6°C start mean the city's outdoor spaces will finally feel welcoming, at least for the evening. Use that weather to move around town without regret, because the week ahead is lean on exceptional draws and heavy on the incremental. What defines this seven days is less a marquee moment than a series of solid shows and the arrival of two pieces of restaurant news that actually matter.
Aespa, the four-member South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment, plays Rogers Arena on Sunday at 8:00 PM. This is the week's main draw—a high-capacity venue, a globally recognized act, and the kind of show that moves tickets fast. If you've been sitting on that one, Sunday is your move. The same evening, American folk-pop duo The Army, The Navy (Maia Ciambriello and Sasha Goldberg) take the Hollywood Theatre at 8:00 PM if you want something smaller and closer to the ground. Later that night at 11:00 PM, Village Studios hosts Irish dance-pop singer Jazzy—Yasmine Byrne—for those still riding Sunday's energy into the late hour.
Comedy lands at the Vogue Theatre on Sunday as well, with Gaurav Kapoor, the Indian television presenter and YouTuber known for hosting the IPL's pre-match show and Cricbuzz Live. That's 7:00 PM if stand-up pulls you in that direction. The week's best comedy booking, though, comes at the tail end: Joanne McNally, the Irish stand-up and writer who's appeared on The Late Late Show and RTÉ's Republic of Telly, brings two performances to the Orpheum Theatre on Saturday, October 17 at 7:00 PM. McNally's work carries real edge and specificity—worth the trip for anyone who knows her work.
Tuesday brings The Jungle Giants, the Australian indie rock band from Brisbane, to Fortune Sound Club at 7:00 PM. Thursday, Donavon Frankenreiter—an American musician and surfer whose self-titled debut landed on Brushfire Records in 2004—plays St. James Hall at 8:00 PM. Friday, the Los Angeles indie rock group Cheekface (formed 2017) takes The WISE Hall at 8:00 PM; admission runs from $12 USD. None of these are marquee nights, but they're solid bookings for the live-music faithful.
Beyond the stage, two openings demand your attention. AnnaLena, the tasting-menu restaurant at 1809 West 1st Ave. under chef Michael Robbins, has just earned Vancouver's first-ever two-Michelin-star rating—a genuine milestone for the city's dining. If you've been wanting to experience that, now is the moment; expect months of waiting. The more immediate gratification comes at Burdy, the chicken parm sandwich operation that closed its food bus last year and has finally opened a permanent restaurant at 1441 Anderson Street in Granville Island's Chain and Forge building. Lines wrapped the block during the soft opening. Get there early this week if you want to taste why the buzz stuck around.
One piece of bittersweet news: Bayside Lounge, the West End icon perched above English Bay with panoramic views of Davie and Denman, closes at month's end after 47 years. If you've never sat at that bar or been meaning to, this is your last clear window. Pair a final visit there with dinner at Thank You Pizza or The Templeton and you've got a proper Vancouver evening.
If I had a single night this week, I'd catch aespa Sunday at Rogers Arena—it's the closest thing to an unmissable cultural moment the week offers.
The facts
What K-pop act is performing in Vancouver this week?
Aespa, a four-member South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment, plays Rogers Arena on Sunday, October 11 at 8:00 PM.
Which comedian closes out the week in Vancouver?
Joanne McNally, an Irish stand-up and writer, performs two shows at the Orpheum Theatre on Saturday, October 17 at 7:00 PM.
What major dining milestone did Vancouver achieve recently?
AnnaLena, a tasting-menu restaurant at 1809 West 1st Ave. under chef Michael Robbins, earned Vancouver's first-ever two-Michelin-star rating.
Where did Burdy, the chicken parm sandwich operation, open its permanent location?
Burdy opened a permanent restaurant at 1441 Anderson Street in Granville Island's Chain and Forge building, after operating from a food bus previously.
