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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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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

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Harmony Arts Festival kicks off Friday

As other festivals come and go, Harmony Arts Festival in West Vancouver is still going strong after more than a quarter century.   Centred on the Ambleside Waterfront from Ambleside Pier to John Lawson Park, the festival packs August 4th to 13th with music, arts, film and food, much of it free!

Highlights of the free festival events include;

Music:
Four Stages to choose from to suit your musical tastes.
ONNI Group Sunset Concerts at John Lawson Park feature the likes of Valdy, Dawn Pemberton, The Paperboys and more
Parc Retirement Living Garden Concerts feature Bobby Bruce’s Nearly Neil and The Solitary Band, Coco Jafra, Lion Bear Fox, Melanie Dekker, Jim Byrnes, The Boom Booms to name just a few.
Hollyburn House Seniors’ Series finds Dal Richards Orchestra and others playing afternoon sets
Live Music at The Silk Purse has live jazz and classic sounds

Arts:
Fresh St. Market Art Market lines Argyle Street with an open air art market keeping the attention on visual arts that have been the core of Harmony Arts Festival since the beginning.
Fresh St. Market Art Market Daylight and Twilight is a multi-media installation featuring photography, film and interactive mediums.
Art Beat invites visitors to walk the beat in Ambleside Beach and Dundarave Village exploring the multitude of artists displaying their works in shops and galleries around areas.
Plenty of other visual arts exhibitions, shows and even competitions take place throughout the Festival to keep your senses amazed.

Film:
After the ONNI Group Sunset Concerts stick around John Lawson Park for free nightly screenings of award-winning films starting at 9pm including classics like In The Heat Of The Night, or From Russia With Love, action hits Jurassic Park or E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, to the contemporary musical Moulin Rouge, or animated Zootopia.

Food:
What’s a festival without great food, Harmony Arts doesn’t disappoint with Artisan Eats, a collection of food trucks at John Lawson Park.  The Park Royal Beachside Patio brings The Fish Shack by Glowbal Group to West Van. The RE/MAX Waterfront Lounge welcomes Caffé Al Mercato to provide al fresco dining alongside the Parc Retirement Living Garden Stage.
Along with these dining options two special ticketed events:
Best of the West is a sold out evening featuring 13 local restaurants paired with 13 wineries celebrating the best BC has to offer.
Mixology Night on the Pier, now in its 2nd year, celebrates the rebirth of cocktail culture with eight of Metro Vancouver’s competing to create the best cocktail as voted by the attendees. Tickets are just $75

With plenty of events to amuse young and old, from day time to evening, there’s sure to be something for your whole family to enjoy at Harmony Arts Festival. Visit harmonyarts.ca for a full list of events and times.

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Paramount Fine Foods on Robson

Saj Bread, “Paramount Special”, Falafel

Vancouver’s first Paramount Fine Foods recently opened in downtown just in time for the Canadian chain’s 10th Anniversary.  Starting as a single restaurant in Mississauga ON, the downtown Vancouver is located on Robson Street, near Seymour, in the former Next Noodle Bar location.  Opening its doors just in time for the end of Ramadan, the Middle Eastern kitchen has been steadily busy ever since.

On our visit, we tried to sample a selection from the menu but we’ll have to visit more often to make a dent in the options. The variety on the menu has something to appeal to everyone, from light starters or snacks; soups, hummus, labneh, musakaa, falafel, salads, wraps and more.  Main dishes are served are served a la carte or on family platters. Traditional BBQ and grilled meats like Shawarma, Kafta, Shish Tawouk.  From the wood-ovens, Manakeesh and Pizzas offer another alternative.

Lamb Plate

For our meal we started with Falafel and Bread, then a Lamb Plate and a Beef Shawarma wrap were our mains.  The Falafel were a good size to share, crispy on the outside and tender inside.  The Lamb was nicely cooked, tender and flavourful, served with salad and pickles with hummus and fries. The kitchen had run out of rice so had to have french fries as an accompaniment on the plate, they were a nice crispy alternative.  The pita wrap was lightly grilled for a crispy, crunch wrap and stuffed full of grilled beef, parsley, onions, turnips, pickles, tomatoes and tahini. It’s nice to get a decent wrap that’s not from a take-away shop.

Beef Shawarma Wrap

We also enjoy the smoothie-like Paramount Special juice blend, a combination of fresh strawberry and mango juices with layers of fresh fruit, crushed pistachios and honey. Like dessert in a glass!

Everything we had a Paramount Fine Foods was fresh and nicely prepared, and watching all the other dishes being delivered to the full tables around the room there’s many more items we’re looking forward to taste.

Paramount Fine Foods is located at 560 Robson Street, open from 11am to 10om every day.