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Patron Saint of Stanley Park | BCBusiness
Put a distinct local twist to your yuletime? with Christmas in the park, a celeb-chef? cookbook and some heartwarming piano. Theatre // The Patron Saint of Stanley Park
Written by Vancouver playwright, actor, and self-professed Christmas-hater Hiro Kanagawa, The Patron Saint of Stanley Park is a dark-hearted winter fantasy sure to warm the cockles of even the most discerning yuletide cynic. The tale unfolds around siblings Jennifer and Josh as they struggle with the aftermath of their father’s sudden death. In search of solace on Christmas Eve, they flee family festivity for Stanley Park, where they meet a mysterious vagabond. He guides them to a secret world beneath Prospect Point to shelter them from a windstorm. There, the children experience fantastical visions that reveal startling truths about their late father, their new friend and how love heals in unlikely ways. In the Arts Club Theatre production’s inaugural run last year, one local theatre critic admitted to needing to restrain himself from openly weeping (in a good way) on opening night. Just another reason to opt for this over more traditional seasonal theatre fare. The Granville Island Revue Stage, December 1-24. artsclub.com
Named for enterprising Vancouver chef Thierry Busset, the most anticipated patisserie in Vancouver’s recent history opened downtown this year after months of blog buzz and attendant drooling over artisanal chocolates and French pastries. Foodies of all stripes have been indelicately knocking down the doors since opening day to get their hands on Thierry’s famous feather-light Parisian macarons. The jewel-toned gems have already earned a reputation that extends beyond the tiny café’s walls. Busset cut his teeth working as a pastry chef under internationally acclaimed chef Michel Roux at Le Gavroche in London, England. In a rare reunion of mentor and protege, the two will celebrate at Thierry with a night of bubbly and treats to fete the opening of Vancouver’s new sweet-tooth magnet and the launch of Roux’s latest cookbook, Desserts. A perfect occasion to get a jump on seasonal decadence under the guise of holiday shopping and meal-planning. Thierry (1059 Alberni), December 7. bookstocooks.com
Prolific alt-rock pianist Tori Amos plays the Orpheum as part of a winter tour in support of Night of Hunters, the singer-songwriter’s 12th studio album. Hunters is Amos’s first release on a classical music label, Germany’s historical Deutsche Grammophon. Such a move may feel like a sharp departure from her riot-grrrl beginnings in the early 1990s, but the new album marks a return to her roots as a classically trained pianist. She commemorates the influence of classical heavyweights like Johann Sebastian Bach and Frederic Chopin by recording variations on their themes. If you’ve only enjoyed Amos on your stereo, this is a concert not to be missed; her performances are unforgettably commanding and ethereal all at once. Take in her sumptuous piano and vocal poetry as a welcome departure from the frenzied holiday season. The Orpheum Theatre, December 13. ticketmaster.ca