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
This Friday Vancouver Art Gallery presents Pride at the Gallery, a night of creativity, fun and connection in celebration of LGBTQ2+, with added programming on top of regular admission.
In the Rooftop Pavillion, overlooking Robson Square, one of the evening’s two themed, licensed bars The Vancouver Art Gallery will host the popular Me Love BINGO!. Part variety hour, part game night and part immersive theatre, Me Love BINGO! is an event that fosters community created by Kyle Loven, a Vancouver-based performance and visual artist. Dressed in drag as the night’s bingo host extraordinaire, Loven will provide endless entertainment with games, performance numbers and prizes all while following an unexpected narrative journey.
At the Gallery’s second themed bar, in the Annex Workshop, guests will have an opportunity to indulge their creative side with communal mural painting as part of Paint & Drink!.
Stationed throughout the four floors of the Vancouver Art Gallery will be Queer Living Library. Inspired by Human Library, it follows a performance format emulated worldwide that invites people to borrow a human book with the readers becoming listeners. The speakers or “books” will share their lived experiences as members of the local LGBTQ2+ community. Guests will hear from Orene Askew aka DJ O Show, the two spirited activist named a 2019 Pride Parade Grand Marshal, as well as painter Leanne Christie, Shanique Kelly aka DJ Softieshan, photography artist Tom Hsu and gallery owner Wil Aballe of Will Aballe Art Projects (WAAP).
Presented with Vancouver Pride Society, Pride at the Gallery events and activations are all included with admission. In addition visitors will have access to all of the Vancouver Art Gallery’s summer exhibitions and are invited to discover works aligned with explorations of gender and sexuality as presented in Vikky Alexander: Extreme Beauty, Robert Rauschenberg 1965–1980, Moving Still: Performative Photography in India and Views of the Collection: The Street.
Pride at the Gallery takes place tomorrow, Friday August 2nd, 2019 from 5pm to 9pm at the Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby Street.
Visit vanartgallery.bc.ca too purchase tickets and access the full schedule for Pride at the Gallery,
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.
Last night, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver kicked off Pride with the annual Lady In Red Ball. Hosted by Fairmont Pride Ambassador, Kendal Gender, hundreds of revellers celebrated while raising funds for the Dr Peter AIDS Foundation. Not to be left out, the rest of the local Fairmont family of hotels and resorts are also inviting visitors and locals to celebrate pride.
Lady In Red Ball Host & Fairmont Pride Ambassador Kendal Gender
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is offering 10% off at any of the Vancouver and Victoria property with a special amenity, as well as food and beverage specials to help celebrate love. Your stay will enable the hotels to make a donation to the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation.
Some of the specials at the local area Fairmont Hotels include:
Cocktails: Stop by any of the downtown sister properties, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Fairmont Waterfront and Fairmont Pacific Rim to sip on special Fairmont Pride cocktails with a $1 donation from each of them.
Fairmont Vancouver Airport: Stopover at Jetset Lounge until August 5th to sip on the 1181, a cocktail featuring Empress Gin and Fort Berens Rosé, that gives a nod to the iconic Davie Village lounge. $15 each with $1 donated to the Dr. Peter Aids Foundation.
Rainbow Buns from giovane cafe + eatery + market
Fairmont Pacific Rim: In addition to a Love Is Love overnight package, get a sweet treat from Giovane. Pride Sugar Buns are back, these rainbow buns are only available until August 5th, pre-order via the Ritual app to save time & money on your order.
Fairmont Waterfront: Until September 30th, staycation in luxury and be close to the downtown Vancouver Pride and Vancouver Queer Film Festival action, with the Fairmont Waterfront Love Is Love Pride Package, 10% discounted room rate, welcome amenity and $10 per night donation to Dr Peter AIDS Foundation.
Fairmont Empress: Wrap up your pride season with a getaway to Victoria for some rest and relaxation with the Fairmont Empress Love Is Love package, until September 30th, treat yourself to a luxury stay with special amenities and the hotel will make a $10 donation to Victoria Pride Society.
Watch for all the sister properties on the Fairmont Pride Float in the 2019 Vancouver Pride Parade on Sunday, August 4th.
West Vancouver’s Harmony Arts Festival is an annual summer destination for people from all over Metro Vancouver. Filling the Ambleside Waterfront from Ambleside Pier to John Lawson Park, the festival brings a line-up of entertainment from August 2nd to 11th with scores of music, arts, film and food events, much of it free!
Highlights of the festival events include;
ARTS:
Indigenous Showcase: the indigenous exhibition returns to Harmony Arts for a second year, recognizing the tradition of gathering and celebrates Indigenous artists and communities in a modern context to share in the richness of their arts
ArtSpeaks: Artist talks, art demonstrations, workshops, hands-on classes and more. ArtSpeaks takes place daily and most classes are free!
Art Beat: the Ambleside and Dundarave local shops and restaurants highlight local artists in their storefronts.
Fresh St. Market Art Market: Argyle Street is filled with a diverse array of one-of-a-kind, gifts, and products including ceramics, glass, jewellery, leather, painting, photography, textiles and wood. Meet artists and artisans who display awe-inspiring works in a row of white tents.
MUSIC:
Harmony Arts Festival
Over the 10 days, Harmony Arts Festival includes 50 live music performances on two stages.
The PARC Retirement Living Garden Stage in Millennium Park, features daytime concerts, dinner concerts at 5:30 p.m. and evening headline concerts at 8:45 p.m.
The Main Stage in John Lawson Park is home to the popular Sunset Concerts, daily at 7:30 p.m., as well as timeless melodies of the Seniors Series, sponsored by Revera Retirement Living – Hollyburn House on August 4, 5 & 11. The 2019 line-up includes: The Paperboys, The Matinée, Dreams: The Ultimate Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, Bobby Bruce’s Nearly Neil and the Solitary Band, R&B Allstars, Desirée Dawson and more.
FILM:
Outdoor Cinema in the Park takes place each night at 9pm at the John Lawson Park stage. This year’s line-up includes award-winning current and classic family-friendly films like Green Book, Crazy Rich Asians, The Incredibles 2, Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, Black Panther, Top Gun and more.
FOOD:
Every good festival needs good food, and places to take a break and enjoy the music with your friends. Harmony Arts Festival doesn’t disappoint with a hearty selection of its own free dining spots and ticketed events.
Harmony Arts Festival offers three special ticketed culinary events:
Ambleside Pier
2nd AnnualIndigenous Feast: at Ambleside Landing August 6th, 6pm features a traditional indigenous menu paired with Nk’Mip wines 9th Annual Best of the West: on Ambleside Pier August 7th, 7-9pm 12 of the Lower Mainland’s best restaurants paired with 12 wineries for a culinary arts event and competition 4th Annual Night on the Pier: on the Ambleside Pier August 8th, 7:30-9:30pm welcomes some of Metro Vancouver’s top mixologists competing to create the best cocktail as voted by the attendees.
Other dining options around Harmony Arts Festival include; Artisan Eats, a collection of food trucks at John Lawson Park. The Park Royal Beachside Patio finds a pop-up version of Feast The Neighbourhood Table to Argyle Street. The RE/MAX Waterfront Lounge enjoy dining alongside the Parc Retirement Living Garden Stage.
Harmony Arts Festival packs in so much entertainment and activities there’s sure to be something for your whole family to enjoy. Visit harmonyarts.ca for a full list of events and times.
The 2019 Honda Celebration of Light is upon us and expected to bring more than a million spectators to the shores of English Bay July 27th (India), July 31st (Canada) and August 3rd (Croatia).
The audience gathers early around the shores of English Bay to take in the live performances at the Park Stage, listen to Z-Fest and watch The Pete McLeod Airshow presented by Red Bull Air.
If standing amongst the masses to witness the fireworks spectacular isn’t your cup of tea, why not take it to the water and board a boat to view the fireworks from a different perspective, here are a few boat cruise companies putting on special evening package for the Celebration of Light;
Harbour Cruises: July 27, July 31, August 3, Boarding 7:30pm each night – 3 hour cruise – Dinner Cruise includes; buffet dinner, DJ/dancing, fireworks viewing, $145/person. – Fireworks-only 2 hour cruise, July 31st only, boarding 8:30pm, $70/person
V2V Vacations: July 27, July 31, August 3, Boarding 8:45pm each night, 2 hour cruise – two classes of service; – Royal Class: limited to 50 passengers, 19+ years only, includes access to upper observation deck, complimentary snacks, sparkling wine toast, cash bar – $160/person – Premium General Admission: 100 person capacity, first come / first served seating, access to outer viewing decks, cash bar – $125/person
Vancouver Water Adventures: July 27, July 31, August 3, Departs 7pm each night, 4 hour dinner & fireworks package – departing Granville Island, boat to dinner at Rustique on Bowen Island, then back to English Bay to watch the Celebration of Lights fireworks
Magic Yacht Charters: August 3, Boarding 8pm, sailing 9pm – midnight includes; buffet dinner with one drink, DJ/dancing, outdoor viewing deck – $129/person
Spirit Cruises: July 27, July 31, August 3, Boarding 7pm each night, 4 hour cruise includes; buffet dinner with one drink, DJ/dancing, outdoor viewing deck – $139/person July 27 & August 3, $129/person July 31
Wherever you find to watch the Celebration of Light, enjoy the festivities!
The above cruise company’s listings are for information only, I have no first-hand experience with these specific events.
