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Comedy icon Margaret Cho returns to headline Whistler Pride Festival

Arts News: Coast Mountain Brewing and the WPL are launching a boozy book club
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CHO 'NUFF Comedian Margaret Cho will bring her no-holds-barred humour to the Whistler Pride and Ski Festival next month, the second time she's headlined the LGBTQ ski week. Photo submitted

Legendary comedian Margaret Cho makes her return to Whistler next month for North America's largest gay ski week. Fresh off her European tour, the Korean-American stand-up, author, actress and fashion designer will bring her no-holds-barred humour to the 26th annual Whistler Pride and Ski Festival after headlining the event in 2014. She plays the Whistler Conference Centre on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 8 p.m.

Cho's latest show, Fresh Off the Bloat, is a deeply personal take on her battles with addiction, body image, and depression. Oh, and Donald Trump.

"You didn't think I was gonna let Trump have all the fun to himself now did you?" she wrote on her website announcing the tour.

Pride executive director Dean Nelson said Cho, who Rolling Stone named as one of the greatest comics of all time, easily embodies what the festival is all about.

"There's no topic that's off limits for her. She has the balls to actually confront some of the issues of the day and make fun of them without being really mean or nasty about it. She sees it as it is," he says.

Running Jan. 21 to 28, Whistler Pride will also feature some other big-name talent. On Jan. 26, highly sought after touring DJ and producer GSP will headline Furrocious with his distinct brand of tech and progressive house tunes. Then, on Jan. 27, Italian production duo The Cube Guys play Snowball 26 after a raucous live show at last year's festival.

For the full festival lineup, and to purchase tickets, visit gaywhistler.com.

Books & Beers, a match made in heaven

Alcohol has been the downfall of many an iconic writer over the generations, but nobody ever said anything bad about combining reading and drinking.

That's just the idea behind a series of upcoming events at Coast Mountain Brewing, where bibliophiles will get the chance to dish about different literary genres while enjoying a frosty craft beer.

This new book club will meet once a month at the Function Junction microbrewery to discuss another genre of book. Enlighten your fellow readers with your favourite books in that vein, and get recommendations from others. The Whistler Public Library will bring its own reading list, with the opportunity for attendees to borrow a library book right onsite. While half-buzzed! In a bar! What a time to be alive.

The first meeting is set for Jan. 3 at 7 p.m., and mystery/thrillers will be the genre in focus. On Feb. 7, memoirs will be discussed, and on March 7, it's science-fiction/fantasy.

Call 604-935-8435 or drop by the library to claim your spot.