Indeed, it’s spooky season.
Ghastly, foul and nefarious figures will descend upon Metro Vancouver this month, reeking havoc in their wake.
They’ll make outrageous claims sometimes rooted in half truths and will ask for a small piece of your soul in exchange for promises they may never keep.
Having two elections this month truly is the stuff of nightmares, but we digress.
This week’s list of things to do includes the requisite Halloween events, a call to whip it good and a reminder to do your civic duty.
Freedom isn’t free
You can feel high and mighty about yourself and your choices, all while having license to endlessly argue on the Internet simply because you’ve performed the most basic act in a free and democratic society.
Advanced voting is now open across Vancouver ahead of the Oct. 17 municipal election at close to 90 voting locations spanning the city.
Advanced voting days run Oct. 7, 10 and 13 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.
Voters need to bring their voting cards mailed out in mid-September. For those who aren’t registered, two pieces of identification are needed to verify names and addresses.
When: Oct. 7, 10 and 13 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
Where: More than 80 voting stations across Vancouver can be found on the city’s website.
Make it, mend it
Anyone who’s busted a zipper in recent years knows the sticker shock associated with something that appears so menial to fix.
Alas, it’s not cheap.
In what appears to be a quintessential East Van gathering, Mending in the Mall takes place Oct. 8 at Kingsgate Mall.
Attendees are invited to learn how to fix and mend clothing or other fabric or leather items. Sewing machines and irons will be provided.
When: Oct. 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Near Stoxx Vintage at Kingsgate Mall – 370 East Broadway
Cost: Free
DEVO meets VIFF
For a guy who’s likely made enough money to fund multiple generations of his family, Mark Mothersbaugh has been an extraordinarily busy man.
The new wave godfather and Devo frontman started his music career in the 1970s, though Mothersbaugh has since crossed over into more than 150 film, television, game and commercial projects.
The 76-year-old will make a couple of appearances in Vancouver this week, at both the Rio Theatre and Vancouver Playhouse, to dive into his career.
He’ll be joined by former studio executive Robert Kraft, as the pair explore the creative journey that took Mothersbaugh from the stages of the late 1970s to collaborations with some of the most celebrated filmmakers of his generation.
The conversation will examine Mothersbaugh’s long-standing creative partnership with Wes Anderson, beginning with Bottle Rocket and continuing through films including Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
It will also explore his approach to creating musical worlds for major studio productions such as The LEGO Movie, Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok, A Minecraft Movie and Hoppers.
When: Oct. 7 at 5:45, Oct. 8 at 5:30.
Where: The Rio Theatre – 1660 E Broadway and Vancouver Playhouse – 600 Hamilton St.
Cost: $32 and up. Get tickets.
Horror with a 19th century twist
The images that splashed across screens in 1922 remain as eerie and unsettling today as they were more than a century ago.
The silent horror film Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror set the template for the modern horror genre, but a new experience in Coquitlam peels the origins of terror back even further.
Phantasmagoria Nights: Vintage Horror Projection Show takes attendees into the history of early image projection through a presentation on the history of magic lanterns and a Victorian era phantasmagoria show — including footage from slides made in the 1800s.
Phantasmagoria is an early version of horror theatre where those in attendance can experience delightful and scary vintage animations or try their hands at making their own projector slides.
The show is for those aged 12 and up and may not be suitable for those sensitive to flashing lights.
When: Oct. 9 and 16 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Mackin House Museum – 1116 Brunette Ave., Coquitlam
Cost: $15 per person. Registration required. Get tickets.
Ten years of terror
The Nightmare Before Christmas Market marks a decade in existence this weekend, bringing together the spirit of the holidays with the gruesome vibes associated with Halloween.
The show brings together more than 80 makers from across Metro Vancouver, who’ll be hocking their wares with a decidedly haunting feel.
Attendees are encouraged to show up in costume and let their freak flags fly.
When: Oct. 9 from 5 to 9 p.m., Oct. 10 and 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph St.
Cost: Start at $4 per person. Get tickets.