Free outdoor yoga returns to Sunrise Park on Tuesday, July 4th. This event sponsored by a Neighbourhood Small Grant is led by Ruby Wong and other certified yoga instructions. The group will host weekly one hour outdoor classes every Tuesday from July 4th to August 22nd at 7:00 pm at Sunrise Park which is located at Rupert and East 3rd Avenue. To register or learn more, visit them on Facebook at Sunrise Park Yoga, or email them directly at sunriseparkyoga@gmail.com.
Figaro’s Garden Centre is hosting another fun workshop this month just in time for summer. It’s a SPF Herbal Lip Balm Making Workshop happening Thursday, June 15th. Julia Thiessen, a therapeutic horticulture facilitator and educator, will lead this evening workshop. You will learn how to use herbs to create natural herb infused lip balms. Each workshop participant will go home with a lip balm with zinc oxide for sun protection. The workshop kicks off at 7:00 pm at Figaro’s Garden Centre, 1896 Victoria Drive and tickets are $22.63 and available through Eventbrite.
The Vegan Night Market hosted by Peaces is back at the Waldorf Hotel, 1489 East Hastings Street this summer. This will be a bi-weekly market throughout the summer kicking off this Thursday, June 8th. You can expect to find loads of vendors with all things 100% plant based as well as selection of food trucks. The market happens indoors and outdoors from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Admittance is by a suggested $4 donation or by bringing canned goods, clothing or pet food. Kids are free and dogs are welcome.
Photo Credit: Peaces
Gourmet Warehouse has a great line up of delish cooking classes year round. If you happen to have a budding chef in your midst, or are looking for ways to keep your kids entertained this summer, Gourmet Warehouse has something for you. They are again offering a week long cooking class Kids Can Cook to teach kids a host of skills in the kitchen. The first session is already sold out, but there is currently space available in their Slide Into Summer Class happening July 17 – 21, 2023. Classes are designed for kids aged 7 to 12. They will learn how to cut, cook, mix and bake some great recipes. This is a hands-on class led by a trained chef, Deniz Tarakcioglu. Kids will learn to make a variety of dishes including handmade samosas, lemon meringue pie, chili and much more. We’ve pasted in the full menu below. To register, visit Gourmet Warehouse online.
MENU
MONDAY, JULY 17 / DAY ONE
• BC Sungold Tomato Salad with Fresh Basil and Buffalo Mozzarella
• Chicken Schnitzel with Spatzle and Sweet Snap Peas
• Gooey Peanut Butter Cookies with White Chocolate and Jam
TUESDAY, JULY 18 / DAY TWO
• Handmade Fresh Samosas with Spiced Potato Filling, Fresh Mango and Chili Chutney
• Butter and Tomato Curry with Paneer and Vegetables, Steamed Basmati Rice
• Fruit Kebobs with Chantilly Cream
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19 / DAY THREE
• Dreamy French Toast with Brioche, Fresh Berries and Whipped Cream
• The Ultimate Beef Chili with Guacamole and Cheese Quesdilla, Sour Cream
• Muddy Buddies with Cereal and Peanut Butter
THURSDAY, JULY 20 / DAY FOUR
• Crushed Cucumber Salad with Nuoc Cham Dressing, Crispy Onions, Cilantro and Peanuts
• Handmade Pork and Vegetable Dumplings, Aromatic Scallion Dipping Sauce, Sweet Soy
• New York Style Cheesecake with Mango, Assorted Exotic Fruit
FRIDAY, JULY 21 / DAY FIVE
• BC Summer Vegetable Coleslaw with Sesame, Light Citrus-Honey Dressing, Fresh Herbs
• Traditional Paella Valenciana with Chicken and Garlic Sausage, Vegetables, Saffron
• Classical Lemon Meringue Pie
All the participants are offered a one time 10% discount on purchases made during the week of the class. For a full line up of all the classes Gourmet Warehouse is offering, visit Cooking Classes.
Photo Credit: Gourmet Warehouse
The popular Trout Lake Outdoor Summer Concert Series is back for another year starting Wednesday, July 12th. If you have not checked out this great free summer event, you are missing out on the perfect summer evening. This annual event is hosted by the Trout Lake Community Center at 3360 Victoria Drive. Concerts happen every Wednesday evening throughout the summer rain or shine. If it rains, concerts go indoors to the Grandview Room. We’ve had the opportunity to take in some of the concerts on a nice summer evening and we have to say, it is a pretty perfect way to spend an evening. Bring a blanket, your friends, family, kids or the dog or all of the above and a picnic and you are set. If you aren’t able to organize a picnic, you can grab some food at the Carousel Café. We have set out the musical line up for this summer below. Each evening kicks off at 6:30 pm. Dancing is encouraged.
For those that love the lantern processions around Trout Lake, take note. On the very last concert of the summer, August 23rd, there will be a lantern procession around the lake led by The Carnival Band from 8:00 – 9:00 pm. We’ve set out below this year’s musical line up. Be sure to take in this great summer event.
July 12
SANCTUARY ALL STARS
A 17 piece big swing jazz band led by Bob Liley.
July 19
SOUTH VAN BIG BAND
July 26
MARIACHI TABASKO
August 2
OUT IN HARMONY
August 9
WESTERN SWING WITH SUE MALCOLM & SWINGING DOORS
August 16
THE BOYTLES
August 23
CHECO TOHOMASO & VOC SWEET SOUL GOSPEL CHOIR
Motown music & gospel choir.
CARNIVAL BAND
This evening there will also be free kids arts and crafts activities led by Red Fox.
Note: Performances are subject to last minute changes.
Figaro’s Garden Centre is hosting a free one hour urban bird walk Saturday, May 27th. Experienced guide, Sydney Burstein, will take you on a tour of the neighbourhood through the eyes of a birding enthusiast. You are invited to come along and get to know some of Vancouver’s feathered friends that you share a home with. The event kicks off at 9:30 am from Figaro’s Garden Centre rain or shine. To reserve your spot, visit Eventbrite.
After 3 years without the Italian Day Festival due to the pandemic and other gathering restrictions, Italian Day returns to The Drive Sunday, June 11th. This 14 block vibrant street party will take place on The Drive from the Grandview Cut to Venables. Italian Day is filled with food, entertainment, and loads of things to do, see and experience. Grab some friends and stop at one of the many outdoor patios set up for the day, or take in one of the many food trucks lined up and down Commercial Drive. You will certainly not go hungry while you wander and take in all the sights and sounds.
Italian Day kicks off at Noon and the party runs till 8:00 pm. Just a reminder that vehicle traffic on Commercial Drive is blocked off, so it is best to take transit, walk or cycle in. For those cycling to Italian Day, we expect a Bike Valet will be set up again at 1st Avenue & Commercial, but this hasn’t been confirmed yet. We invite you come out and celebrate all things Italian. Italian Day represents the largest one day cultural street festival in Vancouver. Stop by and see some of the magic of this great street festival. For more information about Italian Day, visit them online at www.italianday.ca.
The Still Moon Arts Society is looking artists for their 21st Annual Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival this September. The Festival has become a significant anchor of community creativity and collective neighbourhood identity. It has raised awareness of the history of the Still Creek watershed, resulting in ongoing community stewardship, and the return of salmon to the ravine.
This is an amazing community event that celebrates the full moon, Autumnal Equinox as well as Renfrew-Collingwood’s diverse community and natural environment through interdisciplinary arts events. This year’s theme is Water’s Wisdom. Still Moon is now recruiting artists, musicians and performers for the Harvest Fair and Streamside Lantern Installation. The festival includes live music, ecological arts, shadow puppets, workshops and much more. So if you are a musician, dance group, stilt walker, clown, balloon artist, puppeteer, storyteller or any other performance artist, you are invited to apply to participate in the Moon Festival which takes place on September 23, 2023. To learn more about the event, or to complete an application, we invite you to visit Still Moon Arts Society.
The Vancouver Vinyl Record Show returns to the Heritage Hall, 3102 Main Street, on Sunday May 28th. If you love vinyl records and great music, then we suggest marking your calendar for this event. Vendors will be selling their vinyl in a variety of formats as well as CDs, posters, turntables and music memorabilia including t-shirts and posters. Event happens from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission is $5.00.
It is time to once again for the Great Grandview Garage Sale happening Saturday June 17th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm rain or shine. Whether you are a bargain hunter, looking for an awesome
vintage find, or just a great deal on something, this is the spot to be. The Great Grandview Garage Sale is a multi-family garage sale that takes place, as the name eludes, throughout the Grandview-Woodlands area of East Vancouver. Specifically from Broadway to the Burrard Inlet and from Clark Drive to Nanaimo Street. If you live in the area, you are invited to participate and it is FREE to sign up. Whether you live in a home, walk up apartment building, co-operative housing, no matter, everyone is welcome to participate. To sign up or see a map of the current locations, visit Great Grandview Garage Sale. Remember, the old adage “One person’s junk is another person’s treasure”.
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