Mood Swing (August 14, 2025)

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Mood Swing (August 14, 2025)

I suffered a great tragedy last weekend. On Friday, I gathered a group of friends to go to my favourite karaoke dive bar, Funky Winker Beans, only to discover it was closed because a movie was filming there. The floors may be suspiciously sticky, the bathroom suspiciously wet and the beer suspiciously cheap, but it’s my favourite place to scream-sing Alanis Morissette. 


Instead, I was left cursing my lackluster planning. Lucky for you, I’ve done all the research, and I’m giving you the Mood Swing Guarantee™ that NONE of the events on this list will leave you stranded in your kitten heels on East Hastings. Keep reading to find your worry-free plans for the week and don’t forget to subscribe to the Mood Swing newsletter to get the list straight to your inbox every Thursday!

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Collaging Through/With Complex Trauma: In Conversation with Seema Shah

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Collaging Through/With Complex Trauma: In Conversation with Seema Shah

Art that makes you linger a little longer, that draws your attention to a quiet detail you might have missed at first glance is a rare gift. Missing Pieces, Seema Shah’s solo art show at Outsiders and Others from August 2 to 30, is one such gift. Seema is a collage artist and writer based in Vancouver, BC.

The show features a collection of 366 miniature collages on shipping tags, each just 2 ¾” x 1 ⅜”, created daily throughout 2024, alongside earlier works on tags and vintage envelopes from 2014. The repetition of form, the layering of paper and the juxtaposition of image and text create a language that, when viewed together, hums with the ongoing work of living and the gift of small surprises along the way.

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Mood Swing (August 7, 2025)

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Mood Swing (August 7, 2025)

The weather may have taken a turn for the worst, but let’s not forget it’s still summer here in Raincover! Even though the sun is taking a break, Mood Swing never rests from giving you the best free and low-cost arts and culture events to keep things bright. This week, I have another delectable soup of events to serve you, from SAD’s very own collage workshop, to a burlesque show, to a live mural art festival that will make you forget this is our first summer in nearly a decade without the Vancouver Mural Festival (RIP).

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Mood Swing (July 31, 2025)

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Mood Swing (July 31, 2025)

Pride weekend has finally hit Vancouver – and we’re back with a special Pride edition of Mood Swing! If you forgot to buy tickets to that hot Pride party that's now sold out, are allergic to rainbow capitalism or just realized it’s Pride weekend (thanks to your favourite newsletter), don’t panic! I’ve got you covered with a list of free and low-cost Pride events with no tickets required. 

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A Conversation With the Featured Contributors of SAD’s Latest Issue: “Play”

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A Conversation With the Featured Contributors of SAD’s Latest Issue: “Play”

The SAD team recently celebrated the launch of our 38th issue and to keep the party going— and hold you over until the next issue— we’re bringing you a Q&A with some of our stellar featured contributors. I know I’m looking forward to seeing what Hilary, Simona and Yin do next, and am more than thrilled to have a few café recommendations to add to my rapidly growing list…and keep me busy in the lazy summer days.

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Release and Relief in Stand-up Comedy: Interview with Jackie Hoffart from Killjoy Comedy Season 2

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Release and Relief in Stand-up Comedy: Interview with Jackie Hoffart from Killjoy Comedy Season 2

Vancouver director Shana Myara’s docuseries Killjoy Comedy about the future of comedy returns for a second season July 25 on OUTtv. 

This season will follow 5 stand-up queer and/or racialized comics and one improv duo who are challenging the narrow lens of traditional comedy. Interweaving footage from live performances with intimate interviews, Myara’s series showcases the comedians doing their thing on stage while delving into thoughtful stories behind the bits. What brings someone to comedy? And why does it matter that they’re here?

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