WIth our unusually warm January weather it should be easy to get out on January 23rd for the Anti-Prorogation rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery at 1pm. Or, of course, you could just forgo the rally and march and join the Facebook group to show your solidarity from the comfort of your very own living room. There's even a Dallas, Texas chapter if you're so inclined. OK, so there's only three members, but still, give them a hand. I mean, how did these things happen before Facebook? No, really, does anyone actually remember?

If politics ain't your thing and you'd rather sit in a dark room with a few hundred other people instead of out chanting, then you can check out two plays. Debt, the Musical! is currently playing at the Firehall Arts Centre, and will continue to do so until January 30th. The website says the show "explores the chaos, comedy, and confusion created when the charge card creeps too high and the commercials keep saying buy buy." Visa and Mastercard accepted at the box office, of course. Then, opening on January 21st and running until February 6th, there's Nevermore at The Cultch, a play about the imaginary life and mysterious death of Edgar Allan Poe. Billed as a "whimsical and chilling musical fairy tale for adults" it is sure to be a production with lots of black eyeliner and frilly clothing.

The Museum of Vancouver continues its makeover as a culturally relevant institution with another installment of their MOV@NIGHT series with DIY@MOV. This is a celebration of the do-it-yourself culture of paper, yarn, and other crafts, including a button making workshop by Blim. $15, or free for MOV members. Or you can check out a bunch of dead, stuffed animals at the Ravishing Beasts display.

Then there is the Vancouverism exhibit at Woodward's Atrium on East Cordova that opened on January 15th and shows until March 27th. The show explores how architecture has shaped Vancouver and vice versa, and strangely has already been shown in Paris and London before Vancouver. Probably 'cause we're so worldly right now. This is also free, as far as I can tell.

Or, forgo the museums, and check out one of the new public art projects the city has put up: Ken Lum's giant East Van sign at Clarke and 6th. Love it, hate it, or indifferent it, it's large and visible and takes the iconic East Van cross to new heights. Personally--although I've only seen the back of this thing while biking home at night--I'm all for more interesting and adventurous public art displays in Vancouver. I even like the glowing pipes at Cambie Bridge. Although I'm uncertain of the giant tinfoil ball that is outside the Vancouver City Centre Canada Line Station. Maybe I'm still bitter about the loss of our upside down church to Calgary. I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder. Or something.

Aside from all that, there's the PuSH Festival opening January 20th and running until February 6.

The Olympic Line street car opens on January 21st and will be free for all those people needing to travel between the Olympic Village and Granville Island or who are public transportation nerds like me.

And speaking of Olympics, Mike Relm plays on February 5th and Kid Koala on February 12th as part of the Cultural Olympiad series.

Anyway, it's like ten degrees outside. Get out and enjoy global warming while you still can.

photo by The Blackbird on the BR Flickr Pool