The Georgia Straight

Vancouver's news and entertainment source. www.straight.com

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It’s a frosty one out there, folks.

Homeless in Vancouver: Okay, at least it’s a dry cold.

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This isn't something you see every day.

Two researchers linked to UBC, master's student Clayton Manning and alumna Meagan Abele, watched a very pregnant male give birth to tiny creatures from his abdomen.

Read more: UBC researchers capture live birth of seahorses  

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Maybe you are looking to inflict pain and embarrassment on a particularly grumpy family member this holiday season. Or perhaps you're simply in the mood to wear something so festive that passersby will be forced to ignore its ugliness. Better yet, you've been invited to a trendy ugly Christmas sweater party. Whatever the case, we've got you covered. 

Click the link for the Straight's picks for delightfully hideous holiday garb.

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Relief!

Of all the emotions I had while watching the latest chapter of Star Wars, relief is the most relevant to this review.

That’s right, in case you were thinking about Jar Jar Binks and midi-chlorians, or how J.J. Abrams’s last film, Star Trek Into Darkness, makes less sense the more you think about it, I am here to reassure you: Force Awakens does not suck!

Read more: Everyone relax, Star Wars: The Force Awakens does not suck

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Even if you aren’t an expert baker, the pros offer advice on how to make some of the most festive gifts for Christmas.

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Couldn't make it out last night? You missed American pop superstar Miley Cyrus at the Queen Elizabeth. 

Rihan Ali was there and caught a moment of the show on Instagram. Here’s your concert pic of the morning. Miley Cyrus and Her Dead Petz at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Monday, December 14, 2015.

Thanks Rihan!

Most weekdays and occasionally on the weekend, the Straighthighlights a shot from one of the previous night's music events. It's our Concert Pic of the Morning. Interested in submitting your photos for consideration? Check out our Flickr group or post your stuff on Twitter or Instagram and tag the act's name.

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Couldn't make it out last Saturday night? You missed experimental duo Kiasmos at the Biltmore.

Aaron Friesen was there and caught a moment of the show on Instagram. Here’s your concert pic of the morning. Kiasmos at the Biltmore Cabaret on Saturday, December 12, 2015. 

Thanks Aaron!

Most weekdays and occasionally on the weekend, the Straight highlights a shot from one of the previous night's music events. It's our Concert Pic of the Morning. Interested in submitting your photos for consideration? Check out our Flickr group or post your stuff on Twitter or Instagram and tag the act's name.

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Couldn't make it out last night? You missed English alt-rock band Muse at Rogers Arena. 

Ken Fazendo was there and caught a moment of the show on Instagram. Here’s your concert pic of the morning. Muse at Rogers Arena on Thursday, December 11, 2015. 

Thanks Ken!

Most weekdays and occasionally on the weekend, the Straight highlights a shot from one of the previous night's music events. It's our Concert Pic of the Morning. Interested in submitting your photos for consideration? Check out our Flickr group or post your stuff on Twitter or Instagram and tag the act's name.

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During this season of gift-giving, here’s a list of Vancouver-based environmental charitable organizations to consider.

Read more: Help the environment thrive by supporting Vancouver-based charitable organizations  

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Couldn't make it out last night? You missed hip-hop/electropop duo Twenty One Pilots at the Vogue. 

Angel Dick was there and caught a moment of the show on Instagram. Here’s your concert pic of the morning. Twenty One Pilots at the Vogue Theatre on Wednesday, December 9, 2015. 

Thanks Angel!

Most weekdays and occasionally on the weekend, the Straight highlights a shot from one of the previous night's music events. It's our Concert Pic of the Morning. Interested in submitting your photos for consideration? Check out our Flickr group or post your stuff on Twitter or Instagram and tag the act's name.

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If there’s actually such a thing as karma, as Buddhists, Hindus, and others believe, then David and Ambrosia Vertesi surely have good things coming their way. In 2011, the Vancouver couple—he’s a musician, she’s a vice-president at Hootsuite—started #SingItFwd, a charitable initiative that raises funds for Saint James Music Academy.

To date, the Vertesis have raised $125,000 for the Downtown Eastside–based organization, which provides music lessons and after-school care for disadvantaged children. Proceeds raised by #SingItFwd have gone toward instruments, meals, lessons, and social-support programs at the school.

Read more: #SingItFwd invests in the future of music

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Photo of the Day: Pretty little things by  Dionysios Psychas.

Every weekday, the Straight highlights a great local shot as the Photo of the Day. Interested in submitting your photos for consideration? Check out our Flickr group.

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Couldn't make it out last night? You missed Canadian R&B singer-songwriter the Weeknd at Rogers Arena. 

Nick Greuter was there and caught a moment of the show on Instagram. Here’s your concert pic of the morning. The Weeknd at Rogers Arena on Wednesday, December 2, 2015. 

Thanks Nick!

Most weekdays and occasionally on the weekend, the Straight highlights a shot from one of the previous night's music events. It's our Concert Pic of the Morning. Interested in submitting your photos for consideration? Check out our Flickr group or post your stuff on Twitter or Instagram and tag the act's name.

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Forget the mad dash to the mall: the city's craft markets are in full swing. We have the lowdown on where to find locally crated felt ornaments, small-batch liquors, and more. Plus, gift ideas for readers, audiophiles, and everyone in between.

Vancouver Christmas craft markets offer unique gift finds

There are plenty of craft markets that should have the bottom of your tree stocked with unique, handmade fashion well before the big day.

Festive, locally made goodies will delight foodies and guests alike

Fact: snacks taste better when you're supporting local businesses.

Give gifts that give back this holiday season

Gifts that benefit Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House, local businesses, and Vancouver kids.

What to buy for hard-to-please music fans

It’s getting harder and harder to buy gifts for music fans.

Gift ideas for the literary locavores on your list

Your holiday food and drink menus are likely full of local ingredients—so why not your holiday reading list too?

Vancouver Brewery Tours offer sneak peaks for beer lovers

You’ll likely have at least one beer lover to impress this holiday season or, at the very least, a few beer-curious folk.

Cover photo by Tracey Kusiewicz.

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Photo of the Day: In the shadow of giants by Rosey-Noelle.

Every weekday Whenever we remember to, the Straight highlights a great local shot as the Photo of the Day. Interested in submitting your photos for consideration? Check out our Flickr group.

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As the East Van Panto crew puts the finishing touches on Hansel and Gretel in a heritage-schoolhouse hall, Allan Zinyk is surrounded by dancing girls and making eyes at a lovelorn gingerbread man. 

A sure sign this is not the fairy tale you’re familiar with is the fact he’s singing about how he’s “gonna cook this kid” to the tune of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face”. (“Set it on convection oven…”)

The warped little moment at Theatre Replacement’s rehearsal space illustrates how the Panto has hit the right, albeit twisted, mix: take pop-song parodies and bizarro humour and then mesh them with a favourite fairy tale. 

Add copious local references (back-yard chickens, elections, Nick’s Spaghetti House), child actors, and different guest cameos every show, and you have theatre that’s guaranteed to appeal to everyone—including folks who claim they don’t like theatre.

Read this week’s cover story: East Van Panto serves up silliness with Hansel and Gretel  

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Urban life affords much comfort. Electricity and plumbing are utilities that only cross the minds of city dwellers when we run into problems with their functionality.

For the individuals in Jonathan Taggart and Phillip Vaninni’s documentary, Life Off Grid, living in a closed-loop system requires a high degree of responsibility when it comes to using what have remained hands-off necessities for the rest of us.

Taggart and Vaninni spent the better part of three years travelling to 11 of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories, documenting the lives of Canadians who have disconnected from the rest of the world, opting to live ultra-low consumption lifestyles in areas far away from any semblance of city life.

Read more: Director Jonathan Taggart on the cross-country filming of Life Off Grid