taylor swift is coming to vancouver: here's a guide for swifties in the city
local businesses are stepping up to meet expected demands with pre- and after-parties, and a lot of opportunities to make friendship bracelets.
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local businesses are stepping up to meet expected demands with pre- and after-parties, and a lot of opportunities to make friendship bracelets when taylor swift hits vancouver in december.
chandan khanna
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afp via getty images
come dec. 6-8, b.c. place and environs will be flooded with taylor swift fans. local businesses are stepping up to meet expected demands with pre- and after-parties, tribute cocktails and menus, and a lot of opportunities to make friendship bracelets. so whether you have tickets, are hoping to somehow score some at the last minute — good luck! — or just want to soak up the atmosphere, here is a guide to shopping, entertainment and swift-themed events in vancouver:
shopping
b.c. place butts up against yaletown, a shopping and eating mecca. mine & yours specializes in designer resale, west of woodward is a designer boutique, mavi jeans stocks sustainably made denim, and exposure clothing has a range of well-established brands and emerging labels.
for the swift shopper in search of something vintage, commercial drive and main street have plenty of second-hand boutiques.
the shows are close enough to christmas to coincide with vancouver christmas market at jack poole plaza. located in coal harbour at 1055 canada pl., the market features european-themed vendors, a carousel and food stalls.
for those looking for more adventurous gift fare, the weirdos holiday market features work by over 60 artists. “think enchanting witchy wares, freakishly fascinating anatomical curiosities, one-of-a-kind collectibles, off-the-wall clothing, mesmerizing art, candles that’ll light up your soul, quirky stickers, and mysteries that’ll leave you scratching your head in delight,” reads the event’s facebook post. the weirdos market is at the russian hall (600 campbell st.) in strathcona, which is a quick bus ride or car-share from downtown, dec. 6-8 (and dec. 13-15).
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eating and drinking
at yaletown brewing company (1111 mainland st.), eras tour tie-ins include a friendship bracelet “trading post” and a selfie station with a backdrop adorned with swift lyrics. drink specials include champagne problems, your roommate’s cheap-ass screw-top rosé (from a lyric in the song maroon) and a cursed old fashioned (from getaway car). featured menu items include chicken strips, burgers and pizzas with ranch dip). decor will include window painting and concert posters. there will also be $5 beer for parents waiting for the three-hour-plus concerts to end so they can ferry their kids home.
capo and the spritz, the bar at yaletown’s opus hotel (322 davie st.), is debuting a swift-inspired cocktail, winter sangria. made with strawberries, raspberries, house-made pear syrup, fresh orange, and cinnamon-infused lambrusco, the concoction is topped with fizz and frozen cranberries. “it’s the perfect homage to taylor’s iconic red lips, offering guests a taste of warmth and festivity,” alannah taylor, the hotel’s mixologist, says in a media release. the hotel lobby will be decked out with a pine ridge christmas tree farm display, inspired by the swift song christmas tree farm.
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downtown restaurant glowbal (475 w. georgia st.) is also holding swift-related events dec. 7 and 8. they include brunch and dinner specials that include an entrée, cocktail or mocktail, bracelet-making kits, time with an on-site makeup artist and a selfie station with themed decor. tickets at sevenrooms.com.
swifties trade bracelets throughout the concert dates for taylor swift. some local businesses will host friendship bracelet workshops.
heinz-peter bader
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the associated press
arts and entertainment
not far from bc place, under the big top at concord pacific place (88 pacific boulevard), acrobats, aerial dancers, and clowns of cirque du soleil are strutting their stuff on the ground and in the air in the “dynamic” and mind-blowing echo.
swift has expressed admiration for country music legend dolly parton, and vice versa. hence, an entertainment option for fans is the arts club theatre company’s production of dolly parton’s smoky mountain christmas carol, with music and lyrics by parton and based on a christmas carol. the musical is on at the stanley industrial alliance stage (2750 granville st.).
and we know how taylor swift fans like their romance. why not check out love unexpected, an improvised holiday romcom, at tightrope theatre (2343 main st.). shows dec. 6 and 7 at 8 p.m., tickets at tightropetheatre.com.
hanging out
the taylor swift shows have not gone unnoticed by parq casino (39 smithe st.). before the shows, reps on the casino floor will be handing out cowboy hats while supplies last. inside the entertainment complex, located just a few blocks from b.c. place, b.c. kitchen sports bar will host a swiftie trivia night dec. 5 at 7 p.m. where fans can win swag packages. at the d/6 bar & lounge, which will be decked out in “pop-icon decor,” concert afterparties dec. 6 and 7 will feature swag giveaways and local female djs.
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on dec. 6 and 7, from 3-6 p.m., bentall centre is hosting what it’s calling the eras preparty on the patio at 1055 dunsmuir st. activities include friendship bracelet-making, concert-bag decorating (free bags for the first 400 rsvps), a diy patch station, photo stations, an eras-themed lounge with s’mores and swift music, and a complimentary shuttle to b.c. place in street-legal golf carts. rsvp at bentallcentre.events to reserve your spot.
yaletown is also all-in on swiftmania, with a giant friendship bracelet for photo ops and an e-card that fans can sign in honour of the 34-year-old’s dec. 13 birthday.
read more:
countdown to the eras tour: taylor swift-themed events happening around vancouver | everything you need to know ahead of taylor swift’s vancouver concerts
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