Gay Vancouver, Fall 2011

As we kick off our fab fall season here on Canada's West Coast, we are enjoying above average temperatures and gorgeous blue skies, with a hot weekend in the forecast. Great time to head down to Vancouver's English Bay to catch the sunset amongst the palm trees and soak up the early fall sunshine.

Fall is a favourite time for many LGBT travelers, as schools are back in session, crowds are generally smaller and there is greater availability for just about everything. Lots of special travel deals, lower hotel rates and events galore to choose from, make for good travel planning for the months ahead.

Among events of interest in the weeks ahead is the 30th annual Vancouver International Film Festival, VIFF, with a full line-up of LGBT/queer cinema showings and/or films produced or directed by LGBT talent. Festival viewers are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance, and come out to show support for LGBT films at this international film event. Here's a list of the titles to look for:

- 40 Days at Base Camp, Dianne Whelan, Canada
- Alan Bennett and the Habit of Art, Adam Low, UK
- Alan Bennett: The Southbank Show, Archie Powell, UK
- Ballad of Genesis and Lady Jaye, Marie Losier, USA/France
- The British Guide to Showing Off, Jes Benstock, UK
- Carol Channing: Larger Than Life, Dori Berinstein, USA
- Circumstance, Maryam Keshavarz, USA/Iran/France
- Cloudburst, Thom Fitzgerald, Canada
- Everything and Everyone, Tracey D. Smith, Canada
- Happy, Happy, Anne Sewitsky, Norway
- How to Die in Oregon, Peter D. Richardson, USA
- Lost Bohemia, Josef "Birdman" Astor, USA
- Lost in Paradise, Vu Ngoc Dang, Vietnam
- Miss Representation, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, USA
- The Natural Phenomenon of Madness, Charliebebs Gohetia, Philippines
- Our Future, Iizuka Kashou, Japan
- Palácios de Pena, Gabriel Abrantes and Daniel Schimdt, Portugal
- Paul Goodman Changed My Life, Jonathan Lee, USA
- Sauna on Moon, Zou Peng, China
- Señorita, Vincent Sandoval, Philippines
- Sisters & Brothers, Carl Bessai, Canada
- The Skin I Live In, Pedro Almodóvar, Spain
- Sufferrosa, Dawid Marcinkowski, Poland/UK
- Wetlands, Guy Édoin, Canada
- Wish Me Away, Bobbie Birleffi, Beverly Kopf, USA
- Without, Mark Jackson, USA

Get all the details at: http://www.viff.org/

Other events of interest include the Interior Design Show West, the 2011 Vancouver Home & Design Show, and a multitude of live theatre performances. Check out further info and links on our What's On Event of Interest page: http://www.gayvan.com/whats-on2/events-of-interest.html

LGBT-specific events and club nights are also in abundance this season, including Canvas Lounge's 4th Anniversary Party, Divas Live at Celebrities, male exotic dancers at both Hard Candy and Junk on Thursdays, UNO - the new Oasis One Year Anniversary, the 1st annual Stack the Rack benefit for Qmunity, Hershe Bar at the Red Room and the 32 Annual Mr, Miss, Ms Gay Vancouver Pageant, Vancouver's WILD Weekend for bears and Truckerdisco to name a few. All this and upcoming Halloween details as they become available: http://www.gayvan.com/whats-on2/lgbt-special-events.html

Happy Fall!