If you ever wanted to take in all the beauty that is a Bollywood Wedding, now is your chance. South Asian Arts is putting on an elaborate outdoor theatrical show in the PNE’s Italian Gardens starting today. This is an interactive theatre event in which two young Indians are brought together in an arranged marriage. The audience moves from one location to another as various scenes are played out such as the engagement, mehndi (henna), maiyan (a cleansing ceremony done to purify the individuals getting married) and milni (the meeting of all the men from each family) and then the wedding itself. The performance ends with a big interactive dance party at the wedding reception. The wedding is being performed in true Bollywood fashion. It will be colourful as well as extravagant with beautiful clothing, some serious drama and lots of dancing. The cast consists of 12 characters as well as a dazzling dance team. The event gets under way at 8:00 p.m. tonight and runs until July 28th. Tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for seniors and children under 12. Tickets are available at www.ticketleader.ca. This is your invitation to see the most unique wedding of the year!
Mount Pleasant Park Festival Saturday, July 20th
16 JulMount Pleasant Community Centre is hosting a fun family friendly evening at Mount Pleasant Park (16th & Ontario St.) on Saturday, July 20th. The event will get under way at 6:00 p.m. and include skateboard demonstrations, live entertainment and inflatables. There will be activities for all ages.
At dusk, they will be showing an outdoor movie ‘Despicable Me’ on a 3 story high movie screen. You are invited to bring your lawn chair, blanket, friends and family. Some food trucks are planned to be on site for those that get hungry or need a snack. NOTE: the event is weather permitting. For more information contact: mtpleasantcc@vancouver.ca
Free Munchkin Movie ‘Alvin And The Chipmunks – Chipwrecked’ July 14th
14 Jul
The Fraser River District, 8683 Kerr Street, is hosting another free movie today at 4:00 p.m. They will be showing the animated film “Alvin and the Chipmunks – Chipwrecked“. The vacationing Chipmunks and Chipettes are turning a luxury cruise liner into their personal playground, until they become ‘chipwrecked’ on a remote island. They invite you to get comfy and bring your favourite pillow, a sleeping bag or stuffed animal(s) and come watch the movie. Buttery popcorn will be served. This is a free event for everyone to attend. Come down and see if the chipmunks make it off the island.
Street Mural Painting in Mount Pleasant Saturday, July 13th
12 JulYou are invited to gather at Vancouver’s smallest park to splash a little colour on the road at 10th Avenue and St. George intersection in Mount Pleasant. The event is being hosted by Vancouver Tool Library as part of the City Commons initiative and is supported by the Neighbourhood Small Grants Project and funded by the Vancouver Foundation. Join site hosts Emily Payne and Alicia MacLean for a pancake breakfast at 11:00 a.m. and from Noon – 5:00 p.m. you paint. A neighbourhood potluck and other fun activities are scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Come out and join the fun!
Circus Camp For Kids At The PNE This Summer
11 JulWant to keep your kids occupied this summer? Why not hang with the circus? CircusWest is offering one week summers camps at the PNE. The camps are divided into two age groups 7 and up and then 5 and 6 year olds which make up the ‘little ones’.
Summer Camps for ages 7 and up will learn unicycle, juggling, acrobatics, trapeze, mini-tramp and more. Every Friday afternoon, the kids will demonstrate their new skills by performing in a showcase for friends and family. Camp costs $340 for 5 full days plus an additional Gymnastics BC insurance fee of $15.
For the little one, they will also learn unicycle, juggling, acrobatics, trapeze, mini-tramp and more. As well on Friday, they will demonstrate their new skills for friends and family. The two camps are scheduled for July 29-August 2, run from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and cost $175. An additional Gymnastics BC insurance fee of $15.
Camps will be held in the Garden Auditorium at the PNE on July 8 to 12, 15 to 19, 22 to 26 and half-day mini camps July 29 to August 2. For more information or to register, visit CircusWest. Classes are filling up quickly with a wait list for some, but classes are also offered at some other locations in the Lower Mainland.
Nomination Process On Now For We ♥ LOCAL AWARDS
10 JulWe ♥ Local Awards celebrates local food and agriculture across BC. This is a first-of-its-kind awards program which invites all British Columbians to recognize and elevate your favourite players in the food and/or agriculture industry. How it works:
First up is the nomination process which is now open until July 15, 2013. Anyone living in BC can nominate one or more favourites in the 15 categories listed below. Next up is the voting which begins on July 16th and is open until August 5th. Again, anyone in BC can vote for their favourite nominees in the categories listed below.
Why nominate and/or vote? For starters, you are automatically included into a prize draw for a chance to win 1 of 20 $100 gift cards to your local Farmers Market. As well, you will have an opportunity win a weekend wine getaway at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery in Oliver, BC. To nominate your favourites, visit BuyLocalEatNatural.com now.
• Favourite Store to Buy Local
• Favourite BC Farmers Market
• Favourite Local Meat or Poultry Supplier
• Favourite Local Seafood Supplier
• Favourite Local Cheese Maker
• Favourite Local Sweet Treat
• Favourite Local Advocate
• Favourite Local Winery
• Favourite Local Brewery
• Favourite Local Food Truck
• Favourite Local U-Pick Farm
• Favourite Local Orchard/Fruit Supplier
• Favourite Local Restaurant or Café
• Favourite Local Chef
BC is full of great talent in the food and agriculture industry. Lets be sure those that stand out get a little recognition. Vote today and support local.
Illuminares Open Studio Workshops Coming to Trout Lake Community Centre
8 JulThe Public Dreams Society will be presenting their Illuminares Lantern Festival and Procession on July 20th. This marks their 25th anniversary and to honour that they will be celebrating their theme “25 Light Years”. Illuminares has been described as an iconic part of the cultural landscape in Vancouver and has been named ‘Best East Vancouver Festival’ by the Vancouver Courier newspaper. The Lantern Festival has something for all ages and is not an event to be missed.
Public Dreams Society will be conducting Open Studio Workshops at Trout Lake Community Centre starting this Saturday, July 13th, 2014. A Public Dreams artist will lead you through the steps to create various styles of lanterns which will include everything from a simple glass jar design to more complicated designs with bamboo and paper. Cost per lantern is $5.00 for small, $10.00 for medium and $15.00 for a large lantern. Once you’ve paid for your lantern, you are welcome to come in as many times as you’d like to work on your illuminated creation. Workshops will be held in the Ice Rink Lobby on the following dates and times:
Saturday, July 13th Noon – 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 14th Noon – 3:30 p.m.
Monday, July 15th 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 16, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 17th 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 18th 5:00 p..m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday, July 19th 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Illuminares Lantern Festival kicks off at Trout Lake in John Hendry Park with festivities beginning at 6:00 p.m. and the procession beginning at dusk. The event goes until about 10:30 p.m. This event draws over 20,000 each year and is sure to be a magical experience.
Arts Off Main Boulevard Days Start July 6th
6 JulArts Off Main, 216 East 28th Avenue (located at 28th and Main Street), is an artist’s cooperative gallery which is celebrating their 10 year anniversary. The gallery features the works of many local artists. Today they begin their Boulevard Days where they feature an artist in the great outdoors on Saturdays during the summer months. Today they will be featuring the work of Celia Brauer from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. You will also have the opportunity to meet the artists during these events. Come talk a wander down Main Street. There is lots to see.
Best of BC Berry Pie Competition July 17th
5 JulSo maybe you are not the next Food Network Star, but you do know how to make an excellent berry pie. Well if that’s the case, the Vancouver Farmers Market is hosting a BC Berry Pie Competition and is looking for entrants. Everyone is welcome to enter. Your pie can be made with any mix of fresh berries whether blackberries, raspberries, strawberries or any combination you can think of. Prizes include:
1st PRIZE – $50 Market Money and a Market Bag
2nd PRIZE – $20 Market Money and a Market Bag
3rd PRIZE – $15 Market Money
Judging will be done by Mijune Pak of Follow Me Foodie, food blogger extraordinaire, and Lawren Moneta, a local food stylist. On market day, July 17th, shoppers will be able to sample the pies including the winning one by way of a $2 donation at the Thornton Park (Main Street) Farmers Market. Also on hand, will be activities for the kids, berry facts and lots of recipes. All winning recipes from the competition will be posted on the Vancouver Farmers Market website. To enter the contest, contact robyn@eatlocal.org or visit Vancouver Farmers Market website to download an entry form. May the best pie win!
Photo Credit: Galina-NB
Fang, Sarah Jane Scouten & David Newberry At Chapel Arts Tonight
4 JulSummertime is officially here. Lots of great events in East Vancouver including this line up tonight at the Chapel Arts, 304 Dunlevy Street. There will be three performers this evening including Fang, Vancouver’s only accordion rock band. Fang is Vancouverite, Barbara Adler, who has toured since 2002. She is a solo storyteller, poet and musician. Next up is Sarah Jane Scouten, former East Van resident, currently living in Montreal. She is a singer, songwriter and musician who performs folk and blue grass music. Her first album, Magpie Waltz, and feature song by the same name I would describe as hauntingly beautiful. Her songs are faithful to long standing folk music tradition, but also edgy and modern. This someone to watch. Also on deck tonight is David Newberry who sings folk songs with a hint of rock. Show gets under way at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.00 at the door.









