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Yaletown goes to the Dogs for Pet-A-Palooza

Next weekend, Mainland Street in Yaletown is taken over by the West Coast’s largest free pet festival, Pet-A-Palooza.

According to the latest census, 1 in 8 Vancouverites is a pet owner, and August 27, is a day they can look forward to as Mainland Street from Davie to Helmcken Streets becomes a pet oasis.  The Natural Balance Pet-A-Palooza fills the street with merchants, suppliers and other pet services. Veterinary clinics, food and supplement suppliers, pet massage services, photographers,  adoption services, and many more will be on hand.  Make sure to have your pet on hand to enjoy samples and treats and come away with some cool swag.

In addition to browsing the marketplace pet-owners and friends are invited to enjoy at day at the races.  Events like the Running Of The Bulls (English and French Bulldog races), Weiner Dog Races and a Puppy Stampede all through the streets.

Pet-A-Palooze begins at 11am August 27, 2017.
Market Place is open until 5pm
The Puppy Stampede starts at noon
Running of the Bulls starts at 2pm
Weiner Dog Races starts at 3pm
Register for each of the dog races 30 minutes before start time at the Barking Babies Booth
All event participation and attendance is free of charge.

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Ce Soir Noir is back in black at Crab Park

Ce Soir Noir (This Black Night) descends on CRAB Park at Portside for the third year next Thursday, August 24th.

What began as a local counter-event to the brighter and whiter, Dîner en Blanc has evolved into it’s own east side annual event.  Dîner en Blanc, part of a well organized, ticketed, global phenomenon, offers patrons a chance to glam it up and enjoy an evening of gourmet food, high-end entertainment and experiences, whereas Ce Soir Noir is a free, casual local, dress-down event. Whichever floats your boat will be a good time for all.

Organizers of Ce Soir Noir invite people to just show up anytime between 5pm and 10pm on August 24th.  More than just a picnic, Ce Soir Noir becomes a picnic based art installation, with everyone a brushstroke in the artwork.  If you’re hungry, pack your own picnic food to share amongst friends, bring something to sit on or just park your butts on the grass then join in the camaraderie of other picnickers.  The only caveat is that the organizers hope everyone wears black from head to toe.

This year’s event has a city permit to take over CRAB Park, but still maintains it’s free community event status.  To be good neighbours in one of East Vancouver’s few waterfront parks, visitors are asked to be mindful of what they bring and take it out with them, leaving the park as clean or cleaner to the following day.

Whether you choose the white event or this black night, both gathering of diverse communities on August 24 might be just what the world needs a little more of in these divisive times.

Ce Soir Noir takes place August 24th between 5pm and 10pm at CRAB Park at Portside, 101 E Waterfront Road at Main Street.

Dîner en Blanc also takes place August 24th at a to be announced location.

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Get Early Bird Tickets for @VanFoodster Tasting Plates UBC

It’s still more than a month away but now is the time to get your ultra early bird tickets for Vancouver Foodster’s Tasting Plates UBC – Westbrook Village coming September 27, 2017.

Like a city within a city, Westbrook Village has blossomed over the last few years to become a destination filled with everything the UBC community needs to feed their appetites.

As new developments have popped up, the selection of food and dining options has grown with them.  Vancouver Foodster and the local chefs and eateries have partnered to show off the neighbourhood for a Tasting Plates tour.  Like all Tasting Plates, patrons are invited to visit and explore the area to taste what the Chefs have created to best show off their establishments.
Grab your family, friends and fellow foodies, to stroll the ‘hood and explore with your tastebuds.

The line-up of restaurants for Tasting Plates UBC – Westbrook Village will be revealed in early September but Ultra Early Bird tickets are on sale already, for just $29, saving you money over the full price $60 tickets.

Get your tickets now on Eventbrite:
Ultra Early-Bird Tickets: $29 per person until August 31
Early-Bird Tickets: $35 per person until September 14
Advance Tickets $45 per person until September 24
Regular $60 per person after September 24

Don’t forget before visiting UBC – Westbrook Village, Vancouver Foodster’s Tasting Plates visits Commercial Drive on August 23rd.

 

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Richmond Maritime Festival took over Steveston

This past weekend, the 14th Annual Richmond Maritime Festival brought thousands out to the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site in Steveston Village.

With the first smoke-free days after weeks of haze engulfing the city, the refreshing breeze and blue skies made for a perfect day to stroll the Fraser Riverfront, visit the historic Britannia Shipyard buildings; like the Seine Net Loft, Chinese Bunkhouse, Shipyards, or Murkani House. Intermixed with the permanent exhibits Maritime Festival zones hosted activities and entertainment for the whole family.

Music stages, games, puppet shows, historical and cultural arts and crafts.  Visitors could try their hands at paddling a Dragon Boat, tie nautical knots, learn about the cargo and work that goes on at Port Metro Vancouver and Steveston Harbour.

The highlight for many was the local and visiting boats on display along the waterfront.  Boat owners and crews welcomed visitors, young and old, aboard to explore the wooden boats, sailboats, tugs, lifeboat and more.  People scrambled up and down the decks, engine rooms and berths as they learned about the life aquatic. All the while a band of pirates in their scaled-down ships chased each other along the riverwith smoke from their cannon fire circling the sails.

Saturday evening’s entertainment was unfortunately cut short when a real fire broke out at the nearby Colonial Cannery building. Thankfully it was brought under control by the Steveston Harbour Authority, who were on site at the Festival, and Richmond Fire Department.  The Festival was able to recommence Sunday morning as scheduled, allowing even more families to enjoy the Richmond Maritime Festival.

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Mixology Night On The Pier Crowns A Cocktail Champion

Ambleside Pier

Last night, Harmony Arts Festival presented the 2nd Annual Mixology Night On The Pier, a celebration of cocktail culture.  Eight of Metro Vancouver’s top mixologists crafted unique cocktail creations for the Mixology Night guests to sample and enjoy.  After tasting, guests were invited to vote for their favourite to be crowned top bartender.

Under an amber sunset the Ambleside seaside pier twinkled with light as it filled with patrons enjoying bites catered by Cocktails and Canapes, Memphis Blues and Mamie Taylors while sipping the cocktail creations by the competing bartenders (in alphabetical order);

Chelsea Schulte, Cocktails and Canapes
Better Of Red : Campari, Tarragon infused Lillet Blanc, Sparkling Cucumber & Green Apple Juice, Raspberry Lemon Sherbet

 

 

 

Justin Darnes, Mott 32 & Trump Hotels Champagne Lounge
Blood & Champagne : Sparkling Wine, Clarified Orange & Egyptian Geranium Blossom Cordial, Negroni Pearls

 

 

 

 

Katie Ingram, L’Abattoir
Pachamama : El Gobernador Pisco, Amaro Nonino, Giffard Elderflower, Lemon Juice, Bittered Sling Western Haskup

 

 

 

 

Max Borrowman, Juniper Kitchen + Bar
The Cascadian : Grand Marnier, Lime Juice, Pear Puree, Maple Pecan Syrup, Egg White, Smoked Pear Bitters

 

 

 

 

Philipp Karatsyupa, Ancora Waterfront Dining and Patio
Voila Venezuelan Festivus : Diplomatico Reserva, Charred Pineapple Shrub, Lionello Stock Rosso Vermouth, Cuvee Jean Louis Bubbles Top Up, Green Strawberry Bitters, Odd Society Creme De Cassis, Caviar Garnish

 

 


Robyn Gray ,Prohibition at Rosewood Hotel Georgia
Toki Ice Tea : Suntory Toki Whisky, Genmaicha Tea, Honey, on the rocks with a Shiso Leaf Garnish

 

 

 


Sabrine Dhaliwal, UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar
Evening Whispers : Belvedere Vodka, Lemon Juice, White Port, Aperol, Jasmine Green Tea, Bittered Sling Sulus Cherry Bitters

 

 

 

 

Sergio Grandolfo, Cacao Vancouver
La Tierra Del Fuego : El Gobernador Pisco, Corn Syrup, Lemon Juice, Spicy Extract, Sorel Molecular Foam, Edible Petals

 

 

 

 

Guests voted by ballot for their favourite cocktail and bartender plus a chance to win a Helijet roundtrip flight.  After the votes were counted, Winner Sergio Grandolfo from Cacao Vancouver was crowned the people’s choice for top cocktail. A trip will also be awarded to Sergio.

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Vancouver Queer Film Festival starts August 10, 2017

Vancouver Queer Film Festival (VQFF), the city’s second largest film fest gets under way in one week.  Running August 10 to 20, 2017, VQFF brings 11 days of award winning films, talkbacks, performances and parties.

I Dream In Another Language

The Festival opens at the Vancouver Playhouse with the 2017 Sundance Award-winning film, I Dream in Another Language (Sueño en Otro Idioma). Following the screening the Festival’s Opening Gala Party, a celebration under the stars at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza.

The VQFF Artist in Residence for 2017 is the prolific and multi-talented Vivek Shraya. The filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and author will spend the Festival’s opening weekend with audiences at events featuring a breadth of work from her diverse portfolio.

VQFF Artistic Directors Amber Dawn & Anoushka Ratnarajah

“We’re thrilled to be bringing audiences and artists together for once in a lifetime connections at our Festival,” said Artistic Directors Anoushka Ratnarajah and Amber Dawn. “The caliber of talent and diverse perspectives of our visiting and local filmmakers are sure to challenge and delight our highly intelligent and invested audiences. We look forward to the time we will share together.”

 


Some of the artists in attendance at VQFF include;

Taxi Stories

– Doris Yeung, writer, director and executive producer of Taxi Stories, the most ambitious film of the Festival, filmed in three countries and featuring a mostly non-actor cast.
– Philippines filmmaker Samantha Lee, whose film, Maybe Tomorrow (Baka Bukas), won the Audience Choice Award at the Cinema One Originals Festival in Manila.
– New York City poet and author, t’ai freedom ford, whose work is featured in The Revival: Women and the Word.
– Pakistani-Canadian film and television actress, writer and producer, Fawzia Mirza, for the screening of Signature Move.
– Emerging filmmaker Francis Luta, will speak with audiences after his film Project Gelb.
– Award-winning writer, playwright, performer and filmmaker, Steen Starr, whose short documentary Older than What? tells the story of twelve queer and trans elders responding to ten questions about aging, visibility, and social change.

One of the festival’s fan favourite events, The Coast is Queer, an evening dedicated to local talent, will screen on Friday, August 18 at the York Theatre. Featuring nine stellar short films from some of BC’s most standout emerging and established filmmakers, our annual local programming covers documentaries, romance, fantasy, and drama.

Handsome Devil

The Festival closes August 20th at the Vancouver Playhouse with the Closing Gala screening of 2016 Dublin Film Critics Circle Award winner Handsome Devil by Irish director John Butler.  Following the  screening the annual Closing Party at The Junction wraps another VQFF.

For full Vancouver Queer Film Festival line-up and tickets visit queerfilmfestival.com

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Get your tickets for Tasting Plates Commercial Drive – Aug 23

Commercial Drive is known for it’s diverse restaurant scene, experience it for yourself on August 23rd with Vancouver Foodster’s Tasting Plates  Commercial Drive.   

As usual with Tasting Plates, patrons will get to explore the neighbourhood with their friends and fellow foodies, while sampling what Commercial Drive chefs have prepared for the evening.  Vancouver Foodster invites chefs to create a tasting plate of unique or curated from their menu morsels.
Tasting Platers will check in at the welcome desk to collect their Tasting Plates cards and maps then hit the streets with their taste buds at the ready.

Tasting Plates Commercial Drive on August 23rd has so far included the following restaurants in the line-up;

Federico’s Supper Club, 1728 Commercial Dr
Rosemary Rock Salt, 1350 Commercial Dr
Falconetti’s East Side Grill, 1812 Commercial Dr
77K Freeze Iceberg Lounge, 2240 Commercial Dr
Famoso Neapolitan Pizza, 1380 Commercial Dr
Turks Coffee Lounge, 1276 Commercial Dr

Tickets for Tasting Plates Commercial Drive are on sale now

Early-Bird Tickets: $35 per person until August 8
Advance Tickets $45 per person from August 9-20
Regular $60 per person after August 20