Things to do in Vancouver this week: October 25–31

This week is defined by a damp grind through midweek and a clearing break as the weekend approaches—plan accordingly. Sunday hits hard and wet, but the schedule rewards getting out anyway: the Canucks take on the Minnesota Wild at Rogers Arena at 7:00 PM, a matchup worth the trip if hockey matters to you. Earlier that afternoon, if you're up for a detour to Burnaby, Calgary Wild FC plays Vancouver FC at Swangard Stadium at 1:00 PM, though the rain will be heaviest then.

The live music pull this week leans indie and punk. Julia Jacklin, the Australian singer-songwriter whose work bridges indie pop and alternative country, plays the Commodore Ballroom on Tuesday, October 27 at 7:00 PM—a solid choice for a drizzly night when you want something intimate and thoughtful. XCOMM, the Los Angeles hardcore punk band formed in 2023, hits the Commodore on Monday, October 26 at 7:00 PM, a tighter, louder proposition if that's your speed. Nicholas Carpenter, performing as Medium Build, brings his singer-songwriter work to the Vogue Theatre on the same Monday at 8:00 PM. Earlier that Sunday, Bedouine—the Syrian-American musician Azniv Korkejian—plays the Biltmore Cabaret at 7:00 PM, a good opening to a rain-soaked evening. Olive Klug, an American folk singer-songwriter whose work on identity and community found an audience through social media, also plays the WISE Hall on Sunday at 7:00 PM.

Comedy gets its moment Friday and Sunday. Josh Johnson performs two sets at the Vogue Theatre on Sunday, October 25 at 5:00 PM and later that evening. Kyle Gordon, the American comedian and musician known for satirical character work and music parodies, takes the Biltmore Cabaret on Friday, October 30 at 8:00 PM—by then the rain will have mostly cleared, making it a better night to venture out.

Beyond the stages, the dining landscape is shifting. Felix Maristany, the former Kissa Tanto chef de cuisine, has opened The Moon, a 38-seat martini bar and restaurant on Powell Street in Gastown focused on seasonal cuisine and fermentation—a smart indoor choice during the wet stretch. Le Tigre and Toki Doki, two beloved food trucks, are joining forces for one night of Japanese yatai-style street food at Torafuku on Main Street on Monday night, serving grilled cheese mochi skewers, wagyu croquettes, and okonomiyaki. If you're planning around the weather, Tuesday or Wednesday calls for something warm and enclosed: Thank You Pizza on any rainy night, or The Templeton for a proper diner meal when the drizzle is at its worst. By Friday and Saturday, when the overcast clears enough to breathe, C|PRIME Modern Italian Steak and Wine offers a more substantial dinner option.

Wednesday brings the Whitecaps FC against San Diego FC at BC Place at 7:30 PM, a midweek soccer fixture if the damp doesn't dampen your enthusiasm.

If you have one night, make it Julia Jacklin on Tuesday at the Commodore—a musician worth the trip who plays best when the room is quiet and attentive, and the rain outside matches the mood.