Friday, August 29, 2014

Sunset Beach Social
Friday, 5 p.m. until sundown
Sunset Beach (Beach Avenue between Bute and Thurlow Streets), Vancouver
The last one! Food trucks, art market, outdoor roller disco. To claim a free meal, Sunset Beach Social goers can sign up for an nTrust Cloud Money™ account beforehand, redeem the promo code: SUNSET to receive free $5 Cloud Money, and then order your free meal at a food truck at the event!

Free People Park Royal Opening Event 
Friday, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Park Royal Shopping Centre, C780 Main Street, West Vancouver 
Specialty retailer, Free People, is coming to Vancouver, Canada with a new store opening in August and another in October 2014. The first boutique is set to open at Park Royal Shopping Centre in West Vancouver on August 29th, 2014, covering 2,600 square-feet. The first 50 guests will receive complimentary organic-themed gift bags. The reusable canvas totes will be filled with mini succulents and goods from Free People and Tarte Cosmetics. Light refreshments will be served and there will be a photobooth for guests to enjoy as well. 

Front & Company Rummage Sale
August 28th to the 31st, 11am - 6:30pm
3772 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5V 3N7
Front & Company's Labor Day Rummage Sale is coming up on August 28th to the 31st! We will be open with extended hours on Thursday, August 28th from 11-9PM, combined with our Summer Nights shopping event with JJ's Trucketeria from 7-9PM! Come on down for amazing deals and delicious food, a perfect way to cap off the summer before everyone's back to school! 

Tsugaru Shamisen Concert
Firday, 7:00pm
Orpheum Annex, 823 Seymour Street near Robson  Vancouver
Free - must RSVP. The Consulate General of Japan Presents a Tsugaru Shamisen concert - a traditional musical style of Japan. Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver, The Consulate General of Japan Presents Tsugaru Shamisen - traditional Japanese rythym on three strings. Featuring Hiroshi Yamaguchi with guest artist Yujiro Nakajima on guitar.

Twilight at Trout Lake
Friday, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Trout Lake Park 3300 Victoria Dr, Vancouver, British Columbia
The Trout Lake Community Centre is hosting a brand new neighborhood celebration.  Twilight at Trout Lake is a celebration of the natural beauty of our park, with music and lanterns creating by neighbors and artists working together. participate in one of the group installations or make your own lantern to carry as we meander through the gently darkening landscape.  Rain or shine. All workshops are free.

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Labour Day Chinook Classic Catch & Release Fishing Derby
Saturday, Sunday 1:00pm - 7:00pm
200 block of Carrall Street, Vancouver
The 3rd annual Gastown BBQ & Chili Festival is just around the corner and we are well prepared for the biggest and best year yet! This year’s competitors include:   Gringo, Chill Winston, Railtown Café, Calabash, The Hastings Warehouse, TUC Craft Kitchen, Deacon’s Corner, The Charles Bar, The Irish Heather, Lamplighter, Stateside Craft, The Blarney Stone & Peckinpah,   These Gastown restaurants will be competing in the most canning BBQ & Chili Cook off any street festival has ever seen. There are several new developments to this 2 day event; this year we have expanded the festival grounds, created a larger licensed area, an outstanding menu suited for the foodie in you and a headlining performance by one of Vancouver’s biggest up and coming acts “Bend Sinister”

Baconfest at Urban Digs Farm - $10
Saturday, 4:00pm - 10:00pm
Urban Digs Farm 4992 Byrne Rd Burnaby, BC V5J3H9 Canada 
Come and celebrate International Bacon Day with us at our 5th annual Baconfest.... a celebration of all things porky & delicious.... especially bacon! Your $10 admission gets you into the event, one complimentary beverage & entertainment.

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Saturday, Sunday 12:00pm - 5:00pm
200 block of Carrall Street, Vancouver
The 3rd annual Gastown BBQ & Chili Festival is just around the corner and we are well prepared for the biggest and best year yet! This year’s competitors include:   Gringo, Chill Winston, Railtown Café, Calabash, The Hastings Warehouse, TUC Craft Kitchen, Deacon’s Corner, The Charles Bar, The Irish Heather, Lamplighter, Stateside Craft, The Blarney Stone & Peckinpah,   These Gastown restaurants will be competing in the most canning BBQ & Chili Cook off any street festival has ever seen. There are several new developments to this 2 day event; this year we have expanded the festival grounds, created a larger licensed area, an outstanding menu suited for the foodie in you and a headlining performance by one of Vancouver’s biggest up and coming acts “Bend Sinister"

Victory Square Block Party
2:00pm - 9:00pm
Victory Square, Vancouver Hastings & Cambie, Vancouver
VICTORY SQUARE BLOCK PARTY 2014 Vancouver's annual (unofficial) end of summer party!  Sunday, August 31st || 2pm - 9pm || FREE || Victory Square Park (Cambie & Hastings)  Bands! The Shilohs Dead Soft Supermoon Nervous Talk Purple Hearts Social Club Fountain Cool Tough Age  Deejays! Cherchez La Femme Richard MacFarlane (of 1080p)  Food Trucks! 

Farmers on 57th Local Chef Talk + Potluck
5:00pm
Cambie and 57th Ave, Vancouver (on the grounds of the George Pearson Center)
Bring: A dish to share and tools to eat with!  Tour the half-acre urban farm and enjoy a potluck meal while hearing from a few Vancouver chefs on how local purchasing works in their restaurants, followed by an open discussion on ways to get more farm-fresh produce from small-scale farms and into Vancouver restaurants.  Confirmed Chefs: Rachel Lovick of Aphrodite's Craig Scherer of Trattoria. Farmers on 57th is a half-acre mixed vegetable urban farm located at Cambie and 57th. Katie Selbee, Susheela Kundargi, and Reta Morris are three UBC Farm practicum graduates who together run the farm's vegetable CSA program.

Monday, September 1, 2014 - Labour Day!

Reoccurring Events

Fair at the PNE - $13.00 online, $16 at gate 
11am until late, Sat, August 16 - Mon, Sept 1 
2901 E Hastings St  Vancouver
Come celebrate at BC’s legendary Fair at the PNE! With hundreds of NEW performances and exhibits and more than 50 thrilling rides & attractions, and all that food, this year’s fresh new Fair at the PNE is definitely the best part of summer!  NEW AND ONLY THIS YEAR      Game of Thrones®: The Exhibition     Mosaic Music Series     ToonCity - Entertainment & Play Area     A Circus in Wonderland     Jigu! Thunder Drums of China     Mystic India - Bollywood Dance Spectacular     Timber! – A Stompin’ Lumberjack Shindig     Get Animated! Interactive Animation Exhibit     Just For Cats: Internet Cat Video Festival

Oakridge Luxury & Supercar Preview
From August 15th to September 7th 
Oakridge Centre, Vancouver
This month is all about fashion and flash as Oakridge Centre proudly hosts a Luxury & Supercar Weekend preview from August 15th to September 7th! This exclusive sneak peek will feature a number of the incredible super cars that will be on display at VanDusen Gardens during the “nation’s finest luxury event”: The Luxury & Supercar Weekend.

YVR Take-Off Fridays
Fridays, 9am - 3pm
Vancouver International Airport
Visit YVR any Friday from July 4th to August 29th from 9:00am to 3:00pm for YVR Take-Off Fridays. Enjoy delicious treats, rockin’ beats and spectacular entertainment that will have travellers and staycationers alike eager to get to the airport.  Whether you’re looking for an entertaining new family activity or looking for an added reason to arrive early for your next flight, YVR has something for everyone.

Food Cart Fest - $2
12pm - 5pm every Sunday until August 31st
215 West 1st Avenue, Vancouver (between the Cambie Street Bridge and the Olympic Village) 
Food Cart Fest is a gathering of over 20 of Vancouver’s top Food Carts presented by Arrival and The Streetfood Vancouver Society. Join us every week in the Summer for food, fun, and sun complemented by community markets, live music and DJs, craft food vendors, kids activities, and more. Food Cart Fest will take place every Sunday in the Summer from 12pm-5pm. Free for Vancity or Car2Go Members or when you bring a non-perishable donation to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

MERCATO: Italian Night Market 
3pm - 7pm every 3rd Friday of the month until until Friday, November 21st, 2014
Italian Cultural Centre, 3075 Slocan Street at Grandview Highway
IL CENTRO Italian Cultural Centre is proud to host and present Il MERCATO, the city’s first Farmer and Italian Night Market starting this Friday. This market is the first of its kind in Vancouver bringing together the tastes of Italy with the produce grown in local farms. We invite the community to come shop for a vibrant assortment of fresh fruit and vegetables, handmade products from local artisans and delicious food prepared by Il Centro’s chef. The Italian community market element allows you the opportunity to bring home a taste of Italy every month. Stay for live Italian music featuring the classic mandolin and accordion, and children’s activities provided by our Italian School teachers.

Night Markets:

International Summer Night Market - $2
7pm - 12am Fri, Sat, 
7pm - 11pm Sun, May 9 - Sept 14
12631 Vulcan Way, Richmond BC
6th annual Summer Night Market in Richmond starting May 9, 2013! Lots of food, live entertainment and vendors.

Richmond Night Market - $2
Fri-Sat  7PM - 12AM  May 16 - Oct 13
Sun & Stat Holidays  7PM - 11PM
8351 River Road, Richmond BC
Lots of food, live entertainment and vendors. $2 fee for regular admission (Subject to changes). FREE admission for children 10 & under and FREE admission for Seniors 60 & up. $10 and $20 Zoom Passes are available for purchase.

Farmers Markets:

Vancouver Farmers Market - Trout Lake
free 30 minute public tours at 11:00am
UBC Farm, 3461 Ross Drive, Vancouver

Vancouver Farmers Markets - West End
Saturdays, 10:00am - 3:00pm from May3 - Oct18
Kerr Street Plaza – on Kerr Street, one block South of SE Marine Drive, Vancouver

Kitsilano Farmers Market  
Sundays, 10am - 2pm from June 15 - October 12, 2014 
Guelph Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, on the paved play area between Mt. Pleasant Elementary and Guelph Park

FOSS Farm Market Days 
Fridays in June, July and August from 10:30am - 5pm 
Saturdays in September and October from 12-4pm 
6767 Balaclava St at West 51st Ave, Vancouver

Steveston Farmers & Artisans Market
1st & 3rd Sundays, May through September, from 10 am- 4 pm
August 3rd and 17th , September 7th and 21st 
Moncton St & Third Ave Richmond, BC V7E

On Sunday, I checked out Artisan Tea Bar on Fraser Street. Seems like there a lot more cool little food places along Fraser Street now. It's really coming the next Main Street! I found out about this tasting event on their Instagram. I heard that a few weeks back, there was a tasting for their drink menu and on Sunday, it was a tasting for their new September food menu.



For the public to try was: Bacon Chutney Grilled Sandwiches, Chickpea Chutney Grilled Sandwiches, Mediteranean Quinoa Salad and Tomato Lentil Soup. They all tasted pretty good. I liked the Bacon Chutney Grilled Sandwich the best.

It'll be a shame not to try a tea beverage at a tea bar...but when I saw the sign for crazy summer smoothies featuring a DURIAN. I knew I had to to order the Crazy Durian smoothie. I liked it. Smelled so good (to me at least hahah) and tasted heavenly with a hint of lychee.




And if I had read the menu a little closer, I would have known that I could have added Tapioca Pearls, Coconut Jelly or Jelly Bits at no extra charge. Doh!



I'll definitely visit again. They have this roast green tea frappé that is suppose to taste like coffee! 

Bella Gelateria has made a name for itself in Vancouver for its gelato. It is not uncommon is find super long line ups at the location downtown. Now owner James is expanding his gelato shop to another location in Yaletown.

On Monday, he had a soft opening, inviting the public to try his award winning gelato for free. Friends and family were also treated to wine and pizza. Yes, this location is not only a gelato store, it will also serve Italian cuisine, starting with Italian breakfast on the store's grand opening tomorrow, August 28th, 2014. It has a patio and a lot more seating area than the one downtown. James also installed a pizza oven that came from Naples, Italy! Check it out when it is open!

If you were at Coopers Park, Yaletown last Sunday, you would have noticed there were a lot more dogs around than usual. Pet-A-Palooza West saw hundreds of playful pups and their owners having fun and visiting the many exhibitors at the event. There were many different types of dogs in attendance but I've never seen as many French and English bulldogs in one place at once. Many of which were participating in the hilarious "Racing of the Bulls" - a hilarious 20ft bull dog race. Those pups were so adorable! 

Yoga. Run. Party. The Lululemon SeaWheeze Half Marathon took place last Saturday. No...I didn't do yoga or run. Haha. Admission to the SeaWheeze Sunset Festival is included for anyone who ran but thanks to Good Live Vancouver and Lululemon, I got to go the wicked post-run party free of charge. It was held at Brockton Oval in Stanley Park and featured concerts from the Colorists and Capital Cities. Besides the concerts, there was group yoga session lead by Blissology Yoga, Qoola's new yogurt truck made its debut, drinks at Stanley Park Brewery's outdoor bar, food from several vendors, and also a trapeze set up for festival goers! It was a pretty fun night!











Thought it was pretty cool there was a flying drone taking aerial shots of the festival!