The Great White North meets the Land of Fire and Ice as Flyover Canada welcomes Flyover Iceland.
For a limited run, August 29 to October 20, be inspired by Iceland, the dramatic beauty of sweeping glaciers, stunning seascapes, volcanoes, geysers and hot springs. The ancient Nordic land will impress your senses without having to leave downtown Vancouver. Suspended with your feet dangling in front of a 20 meter curved screen Flyover Iceland with swoop you over the lush landscapes. Feel the wind in your hair, mist against your skin, and your adrenaline spike as your senses are immersed in the experience.
Flyover Iceland joins Flyover Canada starting August 29, 2019, showing twice per hour on the :15 and :45 of the hour. Guests can experience a double bill of Flyover Iceland with Flyover Canada on a dual tickets, saving 15% off of single tickets.
Flyover Canada is located at the North Point of Canada Place, 999 Canada Place Way on the downtown Vancouver waterfront. Shows commence approximately every 15 to 20 minutes during operating hours; 9:30am to 10pm. The total single show experience will take approximately 25 minutes. Note: parts of the admission line-up are exposed to the elements so dress appropriately. Tickets are available from the street-side ticket office or online at flyovercanada.com
The public launch and first open house of the historic Blue Cabin Floating Artist Residency on August 25, is the result of a campaign by grunt gallery, Other Sights for Artists’ Projects, and Creative Cultural Collaborations (C3) to revive the historic floating cabin at the Plaza of Nations in False Creek.
The Blue Cabin in North Vancouver pic: John Ward
Originally built in 1927 as a floating house in Coal Harbour, the Blue Cabin was re-located to North Vancouver for more than 80 years. Artists Al Neil and Carole Itter used the space as a studio from 1966 until their eviction in 2015, when the cabin’s site next to Cates Park was purchased by Polygon Homes. When the structure was scheduled for demolition, grunt gallery, Other Sights for Artists’ Projects, and C3 led a campaign to save, restore, and re-launch the cabin as a residency. Their success brought in artists Jeremy and Sus Borsos to repair the cabin and salvage its cultural history. In 2018, artist Germaine Koh and architect Marko Simcic were engaged to build a small 500-square-foot deckhouse; the energy-efficient structure features off-the-grid water and power systems.
The August 25 public launch will include the announcement of the Blue Cabin Floating Artist Residency’s first season of programming as well as tours of the facility, including the interiors of the Blue Cabin studio and the newly constructed sustainable deckhouse, every 15 minutes from 11:30am–5:30pm. Participants will be limited to 20 people per tour and will be first come, first served. Additional open house dates will be announced at the public launch. Mr. Bannock Indigenous Cuisine and Rico n’ Lalo All Natural Frozen Bars will be on-site serving food and refreshments.
Skeins: Weaving on the Foreshore features the following artists-in-residence:
Vicki Couzens (September 15–October 31, 2019)
Angela George (November 15, 2019–January 15, 2020)
Skwetsimeltxw Willard “Buddy” Joseph and Chepximiya Siyam Chief Janice George (February 15–March 31, 2020)
Debra Sparrow (April 15–May 31, 2020)
The Blue Cabin being relocated from near Cates Park, North Vancouver pic: Michael Jackson
The inaugural program Skeins: Weaving on the Foreshore examines Coast Salish weaving practices and includes three research and residency periods by Angela George(Squamish/Tsleil-Waututh), Janice George and Buddy Joseph (Squamish), and Debra Sparrow(Musqueam). Australian Indigenous artist and activist Vicki Couzens (Gunditjmara) will be the first international artist-in-residence from September 15–October 31, 2019, presented in partnership with Australia Council for the Arts.
“The Blue Cabin is a culturally and historically significant work of architecture, and its launch in False Creek will encourage both artists and the public to appreciate the many complex histories that make up the community,” says Glenn Alteen, Blue Cabin Committee Member and Program Director of grunt gallery. “The cabin — and the broader region we now call the Lower Mainland — is inextricably linked to the colonial displacement of Indigenous peoples. As a heritage-focused project, one of our core values is to reflect and engage with the stories of the traditional owners of these lands: the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Master weaver Buddy Joseph considers weaving a catalyst that entwines language, storytelling, and ceremony; we curated the inaugural program to pay our respects while bringing together diverse publics. As a floating structure, the Blue Cabin provides a new way for artists and the public to look at the city — from the water.”
Rebuilding the Blue Cabin in Dry Dock.
pic: Henri Robideau
“We are delighted to support the first Australian artist in the Blue Cabin Floating Artist Residency program,” says Dr. Wendy Were, Executive Director, Strategic Development and Advocacy at the Australia Council for the Arts. “Vicki Couzens is a First Nations multimedia artist and cultural leader who will share her arts practice and cultural knowledge in a unique and culturally significant location. This prestigious opportunity ensures that Australia’s highly respected First Nations’ arts, culture, and stories continue to be shared with new audiences across the world, and strengthens our deep connections between Australian and Canadian First Nations peoples.”
The public opening of the Blue Cabin Floating Artist Residency’s first season of programming takes place August 25. Free tours of the facility, located at Plaza of Nations Aquabus stop, take place every 15 minutes from 11:30am–5:30pm (on a first come, first served basis).
Visit thebluecabin.ca for more information on the Blue Cabin, partners and residency program.
A sunny, summer evening on the waterfront, cocktails, nibbles and a few hundred revellers roaming Ambleside Pier, is the recipe for another great Night On The Pier. Part of West Vancouver’s Harmony Arts Festival, Night On The Pier brought together seven of Vancouver’s top bartenders and mixologists to complete with each other for the superior sip.
Visitors were able to stroll Ambleside Pier and sample each of the libations created with a featured spirit. Amongst the cocktail stations were light bites from Sebastian & Co. Fine Meats, Las Margaritas, Cocoa Progressive Latin Restaurant.
Scroll through the participating bartenders’ beautiful cocktails to find the #1:
Skye Hanuel Kim from Ambersand Bistro & Bar Cocktail: Sassy Secret Featured Spirit: Cascadian Dry GinSouhail Rostainajad from Pourhouse Cocktail: Amble Breeze Featured Spirit: Bulldog GinGareth Jones from Juniper Kitchen & Bar Cocktail: Surely Seaside Featured Spirit: Sheringham Distillery Seaside GinKatie Ingram from Elisa Wood-Fired Grill Cocktail: Wannabe Featured Spirit: Tanquery No. Ten Gin + Bittered Sling Clingstone PeachSabrine Dhaliwal from Pourhouse Cocktail: Summer Sunsets Featured Spirit: Belvedere Vodka
And voted number 1 cocktail for the 4th Annual Night On The Pier…
Robyn Gray from Rosewood Hotel Georgia Cocktail: Ambleside Punch Featured Spirit: Santa Teresa Rum
If you missed out on sipping these cocktails at Night On The Pier, you can see what these bartenders are mixing by visiting their bars.
Now in its 16th year, the New West Cultural Crawl is an annual arts & culture festival that celebrates and exhibits the vast creative talents across New Westminster. For two days, August 10th and 11th, New West artist studios and venues open their doors to welcome thousands of visitors from across Metro Vancouver.
This family-friendly event invites young and old to explore the city’s neighbourhoods; Downtown, Uptown, West End, Sapperton and Queensborough. Map guides allow visitors to explore at their leisure while checking out works by the city’s professional and emerging artists. Sixty + venues, from Galleries, and Community Centres, to Theatres and even a Brewery open the doors to welcome the exploration of the Arts.
In 2018, the Cultural Crawl welcomed over 4000 visitors, learning about 150 artists. Find out what’s new and up coming in 2019 by exploring New West Cultural Crawl August 10 – 11, 2019. Visit newwestculturalcrawl.com to download the weekend’s brochure and map guides to the five neighbourhoods.
East Vancouver’s Commercial Drive neighbourhood is a dining destination with a diverse restaurant scene, that welcomes exploration. Explore it for yourself on September 4, 2019 with Vancouver Foodster’s Tasting Plates Commercial Drive.
As with all Tasting Plates, visitors will get to explore the neighbourhood with their friends and fellow foodies, while sampling the fare that Commercial Drive chefs have prepared for the evening. Vancouver Foodster invites chefs to create a tasting plate of bites unique for the evening or curated from their menu.
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 September 4th has so far included the following restaurants in the line-up;
Watch for more restaurants to be added as the date nears.
Tickets are available now via Eventbrite (fees may apply) Ultra Early-Bird tickets: $30 per person until August 9, 2019 Early-Bird Tickets: $36 per person after August 9, 2019 Advance Tickets $45 per person after August 23, 2019 Regular $60 per person after September 1, 2019
Judges’ Choice “Always Summer In Thailand” from Ban Chok Dee/Food By Fanta
For the last month Vancouver Foodster and readers have been searching for their favourite entry in the Iced Summer Drink Challenge, and the results are in. Finding that perfect way to beat the summer heat has been a pleasure as the media judges and public tasted the four entries.
Vancouver Foodster challenged cafes and restaurants around Metro Vancouver to create their best iced drink for the summer, and they came up with a diverse line-up of chilled drinks.
As with all of Vancouver Foodster’s food challenges, the panel of media judges including myself, Regina Ip (@pigoutyvr) and Shelley Hayashi (@shelleyhayashi) tasted all of the entries and independently voted for the Judges’ Choice Best Iced Summer Drink. The public is also invited to try any or all of the entries, then vote for their selection to claim the title of People’s Choice Iced Summer Drink.
With such a varied selection of drinks to sample the voting was tough, resulting in a very close race. The Judges Choice came out in a tie for the top spot with the entry from Ban Chok Dee Thai & Food By Fanta – Always Summer In Thailand in a tie for first place with Paragon Tea Room’s Hojicha Herbucha. The People’s Choice resulted in the Badass Brownie Epic Shake from Firecrust Custom Salads + Pizzas Vancouver and Langley locations.
For the full details of the drinks and all the results of the Iced Summer Drink Challenge online at vancouverfoodster.com
Blooming bright for a second year, the Chilliwack Sunflower Festival returns on August 1st. This year, a massive field of dahlias complements the acres of sunflowers, for a total of 20 acres of flowers, bringing even more colour to the Fraser Valley community,!
Chilliwack Sunflower Festival
Every day from August 1 to September 15, visitors can make their way through 35 varieties of peak-season sunflowers — from two-foot Dwarf Sunspots to 12-foot Mammoth Grey Stripes, in varying shades of yellow, orange, and red. Pick your own Sunrich Orange sunflowers to take home (while supplies last), as well as cut sunflowers and field flowers, sunflower-inspired gifts, and onsite-grown spring bulbs of tulips and daffodils.
The addition of 54 varieties of dahlias, a giant pumpkin patch, and a field of pick-your-own Chilliwack corn (while supplies last) bring even more to the 2019 Festival
Chilliwack Sunflower Festival – Dahlias
“The success of last summer’s inaugural Chilliwack Sunflower Festival exceeded all expectations,” says festival co-founder Kate Onos-Gilbert. “It was so gratifying to welcome thousands of families, couples, and individuals to our fields, and to see them marvel at the bounty of seasonal beauty that Chilliwack produces at this time of year. The festival has grown so much since last year, too — so I encourage those who attended last year to make a return visit.”
Chilliwack Sunflower Festival – Pick Your Own Corn
Around every turn, the Chilliwack Sunflower Festival provides countless opportunities to capture the perfect Instagram-worthy keepsake photos and videos. Roam the acreage to discover swing sets, an operational windmill, a vintage bicycle, face cut-outs, and more. Take a break from the blooms with the many outdoor lawn games available to play: bolaball, “giant” Jenga, dominoes, tic-tac-toe, checkers, and more.
Weekends include the added attraction of the Rotary Club of Chilliwack Fraser train, which offers free rides through the fields.
A dedicated covered area provides a shaded retreat from the summer sun to enjoy cold drinks, ice cream, and snacks, plus local food trucks will be on site daily.
The Chilliwack Sunflower Festival runs every day from August 1 to September 15 (hours vary; check website for full details). Location is 41310 Yale Road. Ticket and season-pass prices vary for individuals, families and bus groups; children five and under are admitted free. On-leash pets are welcome — a water station and complimentary pick-up bags will be available.
