The very delicious Greek Summerfest on Boundary is back! If you haven’t checked this event out, it is a true culinary experience you don’t want to miss. Along with great food, they have lots of great entertainment lined up including performances by Jim Byrnes, Johnny & The Walkers, Heart and Sole and Alpha Video and along with many others. Food includes souvlaki, BBQ lamb, spanakopita as well as delicious Greek donuts (loukoumades) which are an absolute must try. We understand vegan options have been added to the menu line up. Greek Summerfest on Boundary takes place at 4541 Boundary Road at 29th Avenue, close to Moscrop Avenue on the Burnaby side. Admission is free. To learn more, visit them online at Vancouver Greek Summerfest.
The Britannia Plaza Market returns this summer. This is an outdoor market that takes place just outside of the Britannia Community Centre. The market runs every Wednesday from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm from June 28th to October 4th. You are invited to stop by and check out some local producers, artists and makers which will showcase a variety of items each week including fresh produce, homemade treats, artisanal goods and much more.
If you are interested in being a vendor, you are invited to reach out to the organizers at artbritannia@gmail.com.
The Eastside Arts Society is hosting their 8th Annual Art! Bike! Beer! Crawl on Saturday, July 22nd. This is a biking tour, or walking tour if you prefer, to a variety of great East Van breweries. For the price of a ticket, you will tour 3 of 8 participating breweries, see some great art, receive a tasting flight or pint at 4 stops, plus receive food. You will also have the opportunity to win prizes as well as access to the Create! Arts Festival Art Zone which will be taking place in Strathcona Park on the same day. Tickets are $60 plus GST. To purchase your ticket, visit Eventbrite.
Killarney Community Centre has just announced their first ever Summer Outdoor Concert Series. This free series kicks off Thursday, July 13th and run bi-weekly until August 24th. Some limited seating will be provided on a first come first serve basis. Everyone is welcome to bring a blanket or lawn chairs to enjoy the show. You can expect to find a variety of local performers including Guilty Pleasure, The Odd Trio, Dan Hare, Third Time Lucky! And Three-O. For those that get hungry, there is a new Concession stand Sixty 2 Sixty Eats which will be open to serve food and refreshments. In the event of rain, the concerts will be moved indoors to the Seniors Grand Hall.
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.
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.
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.
After 3 years of being postponed the Briefs Factory is finally bringing their larger than life show Dirty Laundry to the York Theatre June 9 – 25, 2023. Dirty Laundry is a new show from the world-renowned Australian cabaret collective Briefs Factory. You can expect a mix of circus, drag, dance, burlesque, music and comedy. Led by Briefs Factory director and co-founder Fez Faanana, the show is performed by a collective of talented performers from many disciplines. This is a sexy ensemble that is perfect for a night out for men and women alike. The Cultch’s Executive Director Heather Redfern says “Dirty Laundry is a show that will really heat up everyone’s summer!” To grab your tickets for this sizzling show, visit The Cultch.
What others around the world are saying about their shows:
★★★★★ “The perfect blend of flesh, acrobats, dance, boylesque and brilliance.” FRINGEWORLD 2019
★★★★★ “Briefs is the drag party you always wish you’d be invited to!” Glam Adelaide
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