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04/26/2012 - Tripping the Light Hoptastic - Vancouver Craft Beer Week May 18-26

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT

From May 18 - 26, 2012, Vancouver Craft Beer Week will send pints of fermented joy through the veins of Vancouver craft beer fans. Newbies and aficionados alike are invited to enjoy worldly brews, local specials and entertainment planned just for the event.

The annual, nine-day beer showcase involves more than 60 breweries and venues hosting daily signature events across Vancouver. Here is a glimpse:

Friday, May 18 - Opening Night at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre in Yaletown, from 6-11 p.m. Move from station to station sampling a range of craft beer creations and small bites. Tickets are $55 each (plus service fee and HST), with partial proceeds going to support the Roundhouse.
Monday, May 21 - BierCraft Belgian Showcase - Commercial Drive and Cambie St., 6pm to closing. Two BierCraft Bistro locations will be pouring more than 50 Belgian and Belgian-style beers paired with Belgian-influenced hors d'oeuvres. Sample to your palate's content. Tickets are $75 each (plus service fee and HST).
Thursday, May 24 - Sisters of the Tap, hosted by ensemble Tap, 990 Smithe St. (downtown), 6pm to closing. Meet the women behind some of BC's best-known craft beers in this 5-course beer and food pairing event with creations by Top Chef Canada Dale MacKay and ensemble Tap executive chef Brad Hendrickson. Tickets are $60 (plus service fee and HST).
Friday/Saturday, May 25 - 26 - VCBW Beer Festival presented by Legacy Liquor Store and BierCraft, Salt Building, Olympic Village (False Creek), 5-10pm Friday and from 2-7pm Saturday. Socialize, check out Salt Building and sample the best the craft brewing industry has to offer at this tasting event. Tickets are $35 (plus service fee and HST) and include a take-home VCBW commemorative taster glass.

Other notables include a beer cocktail competition presented by Clough Club in Gastown, a Cicerone vs. Sommelier pairing duel at Irish Heather Gastropub in Gastown, duelling beer pairing paddles at St. Augustine's on The Drive and a DIX BBQ and Brewery Reunion (one of our favourite former pre-game destinations) at Stackhouse Burger Bar on Granville Street.

Popular VCBW events are selling out fast, so get your tickets early. And don't forget to plan for a safe ride home. For a complete guide to this year's showcase and to buy tickets, visit vancouvercraftbeerweek.com

Looking for craft beer in Vancouver? Check out an alphabetical or mapped list of venues in our Bars section.

04/09/2012 - The Return of the Spot Prawn: 2012 Spot Prawn Festival, May 5

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The 2012 Commercial Spot Prawn fishery kicks off the first week of May, 2012, and False Creek will be a focal point of the celebration.

On May 5th from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., celebrate the first catches of this sustainable seafood at the sixth annual Spot Prawn Festival at Fishermen's Wharf near Granville Island. For $13.29 including service charges, enjoy a spot prawn boil presented by Vancouver's top chefs and buy locally sourced catch directly from fishers.

Your entry gets you a plate of fresh-off-the-boat B.C. spot prawns paired with sides, sauces and Terra Breads to soak up the goodness.

The event includes live entertainment and cooking demos for the whole family plus a beer and wine tent for visitors 19 years of age and older. Tickets sell out fast to this popular festival, which benefits the Chefs Table Society of B.C. - an organization dedicated to preserving the world class reputation of our regional cuisine through industry education and promotion of food sustainability.

If you miss this year's Spot Prawn Festival, don't worry; in the month of May and into early June, restaurants across the city celebrate the bounty of the annual spot prawn fishery. Before you make dining reservations, look for the Oceanwise symbol on restaurant websites and give a 'fin' up to endangered ecosystems.

According to SeaChoice.org - Canada's most comprehensive sustainable seafood program - spot prawns are a responsible menu selection for seafood lovers. The local fishery uses traps, thereby minimizing habitat damage; this combined with a high species reproduction and growth rate makes spot prawns a sustainable seafood choice.

Getting There

The Fishermen's Wharf is adjacent to the vehicle entrance to Granville Island. Its signature landmark is a ramp (pictured above) that leads down to the dock where boats often moor to sell their catches.

Parking can be hard to find on Granville Island during events. Our advice is to park outside of the entrance or take the #50 bus from downtown and make your way in via Anderson Street or West 1st Avenue.

Other trip options include rolling in along the Vancouver seawall or taking a False Creek Ferry from stops including Yaletown Marinaside, Science World, Vancouver Maritime Museum (Kitsilano) and the Aquatic Centre (foot of Burrard Street, West End).

03/26/2012 - Dining Out For Life 2012 - Vancouver Restaurants Support Local HIV/AIDS Programs

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT

On Thursday, March 29, 2012, more than 200 restaurants in southwestern B.C. will donate 25% of their food sales to HIV/AIDS support organizations during Dining Out For Life.

Across North America, Dining Out For Life will help raise funds for 60 outstanding HIV/AIDS service organizations.

Funds raised in the community STAY in the community; in 2011, there were 3,001 restaurants in 52 cities who supported the event, raising more than $3.4 million for local programs.

Over the past 16 years, restaurants across Greater Vancouver, the Sea to Sky corridor and Fraser Valley have raised more than $3 million for local HIV/AIDS organizations. Dining Out For Life is B.C.'s largest restaurant fundraiser.

Who Benefits From Dining Out For Life?

The Gastown/Downtown East Side of Vancouver maintains the highest HIV infection rate in North America, with 30 percent of the local population affected - mostly women. There are an estimated 18,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in B.C. It is estimated that as much as 80% of AIDS-related deaths are precipitated by malnutrition, due to patients lacking the resources to properly feed themselves.

We all benefit when members of our community living with catastrophic illness enjoy a better quality of life and are able to manage their care effectively. By dining out on March 29, you will help two community organizations ease the burden of illness on patients and their families.

A Loving Spoonful will deliver more than 100,000 nutritious meals to men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS in greater Vancouver this year. A Loving Spoonful is guided by the principle that "No one living with AIDS should live with hunger." Friends For Life provides complementary and alternative medicine to improve the quality of life for HIV/AIDS patients, their families and the community. With a support team of more than 200 health practitioner volunteers, it is North America's only comprehensive wellness centre that provides more than 50 types of therapies - from Chinese and naturopathic remedies and nutrition programs to counselling services and in-home palliative support - at no cost to its members.

And if those aren't enough reasons to support the event, here's another one: Dining Out For Life is transparent with its cost of fundraising; internationally in 2012, a very respectable 15.7% of funds raised went to expenses.

Reserve now to ensure your place at a participating Dining Out For Life restaurant!

03/11/2012 - HULLABALOO 2012 - BC's Best and Brightest Slam Poets

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 08:00:00 GMT

From April 10 - 14, 2012, cheer on more than 80 youth slam poets representing 16 high schools who will compete at the second annual Hullabaloo festival in Vancouver. Hullabaloo is more than a competition - it's an opportunity for youth to connect with a community of writers, meet their mentors and voice issues that matter to them.

Vancouver's leading artist and spoken word venues will set the stage for Hullabaloo 2012: Cafe Duex Soleils, Rio Theatre, the Vancouver Art Gallery and Arts Club Theatre.

The event is organized by accomplished slam poets R.C. Weslowski and Chris Gilpin and will feature an impressive slate of internationally-renowned artists (links to YouTube performances):

Khary Jackson
Mary Pinkoski
Buddy Wakefield
Zaccheus Jackson
Mo Lawrence
Olivia B.
Lee Cannon Brown

Hullabaloo 2012 Schedule at a Glance

Tuesday, April 10th - Youth Spoken Word Jamboree Featuring 2012
Canadian Slam Champion, Mary Pinkoski.

Where: Cafe Deux Soleils (2096 Commercial Drive)
When: doors at 7pm, show starts at 7:30pm
Tickets: youth $3 (18 and younger), adults $5 (19 and older), free to festival participants
Description: All teams participating in Hullabaloo are invited to perform a
one-minute intro poem. We encourage all teams to do this. Feature poetry set by Mary
Pinkoski. Plus we will end the evening with a showcase of all the team alternates.

Wednesday, April 11th - First Day of Preliminary Bouts featuring Ostwelve

Where: Vancouver Art Gallery, Heritage Courtrooms upstairs (750 Hornby Street)
When: feature by Ostwelve in rotunda 4:30-4:50pm,
First slate of prelims 5:00 - 6:30pm, Second slate of prelims 7:00 - 8:30pm
Tickets: FREE to everyone Description: Every team in Hullabaloo will perform in
one team bout this night in either the first or second slate of prelims.

Thursday, April 12th - Second Day of Preliminary Bouts feat. Zaccheus Jackson

Where: Vancouver Art Gallery, Heritage Courtrooms upstairs (750 Hornby Street)
When: feature by Zaccheus Jackson in rotunda 4:30-4:50pm,
First slate of prelims 5:00 - 6:30pm, Second slate of prelims 7:00 - 8:30pm
Tickets: FREE to everyone Description: Every team in Hullabaloo will perform in
one team bout this night in either the first or second slate of prelims.

Friday, April 13th - Semi-Final Bout with Mini-Feature by Olivia B.

Where: The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway)
When: Semi-Final at 10 am; Olivia B will perform a 15 minute mini feature.
Tickets: youth $5 (18 and under), adults $10 (19 and older), free to festival
participants. School group bookings are available for semi finals.
Description: The top 8 highest-ranking teams from prelims advance to the semi-finals. There will be 15 minute sets by an awesome feature poet before the bout.

Friday April 13th - 1st ever Hullabaloo Individual Poetry Slam Finals

Where: The Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway @ Commercial)
When:7pm
Tickets: $6 for in advance for everyone $8 for youth at the door and $12 for 19 and
up at the door. Free to all festival participants.
Twelve of the highest scoring individual poets will compete for the right to call themselves the 2012 Hullabaloo Indie Champion. There will also be a feature performance by 2 time Individual World Poetry Slam Champion, Buddy Wakefield.

Saturday, April 14th, 2012 - Finals Night featuring 6 is 9 aka Khary Jackson**

Where: Arts Club Theatre Granville Island Stage (1585 Johnson Street)
When: doors at 7pm, show starts at 7:30pm
Tickets: youth $12 (18 and under) $8 for student/youth groups, adults $18 (19 and older), free to festival participants.
Description: The top two teams from each semi-final bout advance to Finals Night.
Khary Jackson, two-time U.S. Slam Champion, will start the evening with a feature set of
his mind-blowing poetry. Then we'll have the final bout and crown the 2012 Hullabaloo
Champion.

**Tickets available now at the Arts Club Box Office or through ticketmaster.

For more information and tickets, visit http://youthslam.ca

02/03/2012 - ComedyFest Coming to Vancouver February 16-25!

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT

In eight years, The Vancouver ComedyFest has grown into a premier showcase of Canadian and international comedians. Past guests have included Zach Galifianakis, Jay Leno and Steve Martin.

This year, more than 40 comedy artists from around the world will perform at locations around central Vancouver. Headlining the 2012 lineup are Betty White, Carol Burnett, Jeremy Hotz, Margaret Cho, David Cross (Arrested Development) and Bob Odenkirk (Breaking Bad).

ComedyFest venues include the Vogue Theatre, Lafflines Comedy Club, Rio Theatre, the Orpheum, the Centre in Vancouver, Comedy Mix and Tom Lee Music Hall.

Gala opening night on Thursday, February 16 will feature a dozen comedians promising a night of serious laughs.

Visit Vancouver ComedyFest for full event information including performer bios, hotel packages, venues and ticket sales.

Check out @VancouverComedy on Twitter!

01/25/2012 - Chinese New Year 2012 - Vancouver Food and Festivals

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Although Lunar New Year is commonly referred to in Vancouver as Chinese New Year, the festival is celebrated in many regions of Southeast Asia.

Lunar New Year began on January 23 and heralded in the Year of the Dragon - the only character in the Chinese zodiac that is not a real animal but a mystical creature. The Dragon is a symbol of luck, power and fortune and is a historical symbol of the Chinese emperor.

This is an auspicious period in the Chinese zodiac. After 2012, you will not see another Dragon for twelve years, so we suggest taking in local Lunar New year events and trying some of the world's finest real Chinese food - which arguably just happens to be right here in Vancouver. Who knows, maybe some of that Dragon luck will rub off!

Where to Eat

For the first time, Chinese chefs in the city are about to duke it out in the kitchen for the title of BC Chinese Chef of the Year.

The competition will take place January 29 and 30 at the BC Foodservice Expo (sorry public, registration is open only to members of the foodservice industry).

All competing chefs are members of the Canadian Culinary Federation (CCFCC) and the BC Chefs Association. While only one team will be crowned the winner, this list of competitors provides a window into where you are likely to find some of the best Chinese cuisine in the city:

Gordon Ping Wah Chan of Always Seafood Restaurant
Sam Ka Bo Leung of Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
Wing Ho of Fortune Seafood Restaurant
Anthony Shy Wing Leung of Grand Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
Joseph Jiang of The Jade Seafood Restaurant
Kent Wong of Red Sun Seafood Restaurant
Chun Lum Ma of Shiang Garden Seafood Restaurant
Keng Wai Ng of Vivacity Restaurant
Todd Bright of Wild Rice Modern Chinese Restaurant

(From the official media release): "The competition will surely be the highest-profiled professional Chinese chef event for the Chinese chef community in this province," said Chef Donald Gyurkovits, CCFCC president and one of the event organizers. "I am so proud of my colleagues in the Chinese community for stepping up to this exciting challenge. I look forward to witnessing the making of Canadian culinary history!"

Vancouver Chinese Restaurants Rated by Diners and Critics

If you want to sample some of the finest Chinese dishes in Vancouver, start with the website of the Chinese Restaurant Awards. Explore dishes ranked in 'critics choice' and 'diners choice' categories.

Dine Out Vancouver - Search by Cuisine Type

Chinese and South East Asian restaurants are also part of Dine Out Vancouver, happening now until February 5, 2012 and offering great deals on set menus at popular eateries across the city. Search restaurants by cuisine category on the Dine Out Vancouver website presented by Tourism Vancouver.

Lunar New Year Events & Festivals Happening this Weekend

Chinese New Year Parade & Spring Festival
LunarFest at Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza (including Lunar New Year Skate at Robson Plaza)
Year of the Dragon Temple Fair - Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden
Year of the Dragon Celebration - International Village
Year of the Dragon Celebration - West Vancouver

Which one of the 12 Chinese Zodiac signs are you? For a little fun, check out your animal sign on the Travel China Guide.

01/18/2012 - City and Slope - Skiing & Snowboarding Meets Downtown Lights

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT

From February 9 - 12, 2012, Vancouver's local winter sports recreation areas - Mt. Seymour, Grouse Mountain and Cypress Mountain - are partnering with downtown business associations, hotels and venues to give you 'City and Slope' 2012. The event showcases winter activities presented by local ski and snowboard destinations as well as downtown hot spots in partnership with Telus World of Science and the Yaletown Business Association.

Highlights include night skiing/snowshoeing/snowboarding, fondue tours, action sport movie screenings, 'in the dark' zipline tours, Illuminate Yaletown and the Electric Avalanche - a 6,000 person music event featuring superstar celebrity DJ Benny Benassi at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

From the official City and Slope press release:
City and Slope is a 4-day mountain and music festival that is taking place in Vancouver from Feb 9th to 12th, 2012. City and Slope will offer an exclusive bundled pass to Vancouver's three local mountains (Grouse, Seymour and Cypress), as well as a series of attractions taking place on Grouse Mountain during 24 Hours of Winter and in the downtown core - from lighting animations and ice carving, to a 6,000 person music event. All attractions will provide exclusive discounts to City and Slope, to be bundled with hotel packages on the festival's website/booking system. For tickets please visit: www.cityandslope.com.

Official media release

01/09/2012 - 2012 Vancouver International Wine Festival

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine festival returns February 22 to March 4 for another great year showcasing wineries from around the world.

The annual Festival is one of the oldest and largest on the continent, with grand room tastings, wine pairing events, dinners, lunches and brunches, culinary competitions and educational sessions. This year the event will feature wines of Chile.

The most popular public events and tastings sell out fast and admission prices range from $29 to $450. Tickets go on sale January 10, so get yours early.

Central to the event are the International Festival Tastings, which invite the public to sample and learn about wineries from around the globe. In 2012 they will take place on three nights - Thursday, March 1, and Friday and Saturday March 2 and 3 - from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre (West). Advance tickets are $85.

View the complete calendar of events.

The International Wine Festival has raised $7.5 million for the Vancouver Playhouse since 1979, enabling the theatre company to continue to create educational and community outreach programs as well as more than 230 theatrical productions.

01/01/2012 - Opting Out of Dine Out? Try FeastVan

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The Dine Out Vancouver event is fast-approaching, offering up great savings on set menus at participating Vancouver restaurants for a limited time. Maybe you're choosing to avoid the non-regular crowds, your favourite restaurants aren't participating or you just want to try something new; in any case, we've found your alternative:

FeastVan

From January 20 to February 5, 2012, several neighbourhood-conscious East Vancouver restaurants are banding together to donate $1 from all prix fixe dinners to a grassroots food program at inner city elementary schools. The Vancouver Inner City Back Pack Food Program is intended to provide nutritious, kid-appropriate meals and snacks for school children and their siblings who are living with food insecurity.

As well, a percentage of proceeds from every keg of R&B Brewing East Side Bitter sold at participating restaurants will go toward the cause.

FeastVan runs from Jan 20 - Feb 05, 2012 at participating restaurants (last updated January 21, 2012):

Alpen Club
Au Petit Chavignol
Cafeteria
Campagnolo Roma
El Barrio
Founders Lounge (at the Cultch)
Fray
les amis du FROMAGE
Les Faux Bourgeois
The Red Wagon
Two Chef's and a Table
The Waldorf
R&B Brewing Co. (beer)

"Children who are hungry or undernourished are more likely to become sick, miss school, exhibit behavior problems, and fall behind in class. By offering a weekend food program for children, we will be able to provide many benefits including: increased ability to participate in recreation, close the gap of food insecurity over the weekend, help improve attention span and behavior during the week in school, mentoring interpersonal and communication skills to the children who received the backpacks, providing leadership and pre-employment training to youth volunteers." ~ Vancouver Inner City Back Pack Food Program

The program will also serve to educate parents and families about healthy food choices and hopefully encourage vendors on Vancouver's inner city neighbourhoods to become involved.

FeastVan is sponsored by Scout Magazine.

01/01/2012 - Dine Out Vancouver 2012: 10th Anniversary Festival

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Dine Out Vancouver is the arguably the largest annual winter dining event in the city.

Presented by Tourism Vancouver, the 17-day festival runs from January 20 to February 5 and involves hundreds of local restaurants, bars and bistros offering a range of fixed menus, plus pairings with BC VQA wines and Kronenbourg beer.

Price points are $18, $28 and $38 (plus applicable tax and gratuity). Menus will be visible for comparing and booking on the Tourism Vancouver website starting January 9th.

A host of other events are scheduled for the festival's 10th anniversary year, including culinary and street food tours, cooking classes and food-wine pairing sessions.

Reserve early as the most popular restaurants and events will sell out fast. Planning to stay in Vancouver during Dine Out? Dozens of area hotels have joined the program to offer deals on accommodation priced at $78, $108 and $138 per room, per night (plus applicable taxes and only available during festival dates).

Another event featuring prix fixe menus runs concurrently to Dine Out Vancouver: FeastVan has brought together several East Vancouver culinary hot spots who are donating $1 off every one of their prix fixe menus to food programs for inner city children.

12/28/2011 - More New Year's Eve Event Ideas

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Still haven't made your Vancouver New Year's Eve plans? We found more restaurants, lounges and bars around town planning parties to help you and your friends ring in 2012.

Whether it's dinner, dancing or showing off your best formal attire, one of these events is sure to fit your agenda.

Check our New Year's Eve Calendar for more information and direct links to the following websites:

Let's Just Party - New Year's Eve Party
Regal Beagle The
Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 8:00pm - Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 2:00am
New Year's Eve at Raw Canvas - No Cover
Raw Canvas
Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 8:00pm - Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 1:00am
New Year's Eve at Cibo Trattoria
Cibo Trattoria
Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 6:00pm - Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 12:00am
New Year's Eve Party - Live Reggae Band
Calabash Bistro
Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 10:00pm - Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 12:00am
New Year's Eve at Chambar
Chambar Restaurant
Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 7:30pm - Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 1:00am
New Year's Eve at Yaletown Brewing Company
Yaletown Brewing Company
Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 8:00pm - Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 3:00am
New Year's Eve House Party - Downtown & Kitsilano
Ceili's Irish Pub & Restaurant
Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 8:00pm - Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 2:00am
Twenty Twelve New Year's Eve Party
Sip Resto Lounge
Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 7:00pm - Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 3:00am
New Year's Eve Party - For Canucks Autism Network
Red Card Sports Bar & Eatery
Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 7:00pm - Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 2:00am
New Year's Eve at The Oakwood
Oakwood Canadian Bistro
Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 8:00pm - Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 2:30am
New Year's Eve - Dueling Piano Party
Manchester Public Eatery The
Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 9:00pm - Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 12:00am
New Year's Eve at Ensemble Tap - No Cover
Ensemble Tap
Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 11:00am - Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 12:00am
80s New Year
Section 3
Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 8:00pm - Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 12:00am
Live Jazz - Mike Allen Quartet (Including New Year's Eve)
O'Doul's Restaurant & Bar
Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 9:00pm - Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 1:00am

Links and details on Night Out New Year's Eve Calendar

12/21/2011 - Wild and Wacky Holiday and New Year's Eve Events in Vancouver

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT

The Ugly Sweater Party at Ceili's Granville

Our favourite movie clip of the ugly sweater has to be the apres ski party scene from Dumb and Dumber (how could you forget the Blue Angel?) Here's your opportunity to show off that gem of a fashion anti-statement in a safe environment at the Boxing Day Ugly Sweater Party at Ceili's on Smithe at Granville. 'Best ugly sweater' prizes and drink specials, with music by DJ Ramble. Email kimb@ceilis.com for info or call Ceili's for ticket information and availability.

Fire & Ice Show - Whistler Blackcomb - FREE

On Monday, December 26 and every Sunday until April 8, watch athletes from the Whistler Blackcomb Ski and Snowboard School flip and twist airborne through a burning ring of fire. Weekly shows start at 6:30 pm in Skier's Plaza at the base of Whistler Mountain, and are followed by a fireworks show.

The Zombie Formal at Tunnel Nightclub

Do you miss Halloween already? Or perhaps you long for the British tradition of New Year's Eve costume parties? Here's your chance to raise the celebratory finger to the traditional black tie event, freak out your friends, or be chased by zombies. Formal is a must. The decor is sure to be outstanding, with the folks who created the Dunbar Haunted House in charge of decorating the venue. Mystery DJ guest at midnight. Tickets from $20 - $30 (prices go up as more tickets sell out) so hurry to get yours.

FMA Cabaret New Year's Eve - Prohibited

FMA (Fashion, Music, Art & Lifestyle) Weekly is hosting what is sure to be one of the most talked-about New Year's events of the season. Rumoured to be a sneak peek of the 2012 FMA Award Gala, the 14,000 square foot Masik Studios at 142 West 2^nd Avenue will be transformed into a culture of the Prohibition Era for the event, with burlesque dancers, cheeky lingerie and art exhibits. First 100 tickets sold are $75 and regular priced tickets are $95. C Restaurant and Raincity Grill are offering $175 per person dinner and event packages, including a $10 taxi voucher to Masik Studios. Check website for dinner details and ticket availability.

Sljivovica Social Club at Raw Canvas - NO COVER

This is a first-come, first-in-the-door New Year's Eve celebration featuring Vancouver's Balkan brass band Orkestar Sljivovica. If the band doesn't have you dancing on the tables, the fact that there is no cover charge for this fun night will. Although the party doesn't start until 8:00pm, Raw Canvas recommends you get there early to avoid a lineup.

Goin' to The Chapel

In case you are wondering, this is isn't a church party. Ring in 2012 at Chapel Arts - an unabashedly avant garde, converted place of worship at 304 Dunlevy Street in downtown East Vancouver. The impeccably modernized Art Deco chapel is now a multi-use gallery and event space with live performance stage. Some of Vancouver's best DJs, $5 dollar drinks and surprises are in store for anyone who springs for a $50 ticket to this event. Brought to you by the Dot Dot Crew.

Dueling Piano Party at The Manchester Bar

The Manchester Bar's first annual Vegas New Year celebration features the Dueling Piano Party from Seattle. This interactive live music and dancing event lets the audience determine the course of the night's music. Duel with your fellow partiers to have the musicians drop songs in favour of yours. Needless to say the night might get testy (in a fun way). Tickets are $30 and include complementary canapes, drink specials, party favours and champagne at midnight.

New Year's Eve at The Bourbon - Vancouver's Only Country Bar

Why not reign in the New Year country style? Vancouver's hottest country music DJs and a mechanical bull are just a few of the attractions at this Gastown establishment. New Year's Eve prize giveaways include a Cloverdale Rodeo Getaway, Vancouver Canucks press box tickets, door prizes and gift bags for the ladies. Early bird tickets going fast at a mere $20 each.

Check out more of our 2012 New Year's Eve finds http://www.nightoutvancouver.com/events/2011-12-31

11/30/2011 - Alchemists of the Cocktail - Vancouver Cocktail Bars On World Stage - Part I

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:00:00 GMT

You might think of Vancouver is a city of outdoor adventure and postcard scenery, but you can add the world's finest cocktail bars to our list of local attractions. For our smaller urban population relative to famed cosmopolitan centres like New York, Los Angeles, Sydney, Paris and London, we've managed to cultivate and attract mixologists who can compete with the world's best.

Here's a two-part series on local mixologists and bartenders (in no particular order and certainly not the only ones in this city) whose prowess at creating unusual and exotic drinks puts Vancouver establishments in a league with the world's best cocktail bars:

Part I...

Brad Stanton & Jonathan Smolensky - Hawksworth Restaurant - Downtown

Brad Stanton is co-founder and vice-president of the Canadian Professional Bartenders Association (CPBA), which is devoted to strengthening the standards of professional bartending across Canada. He is responsible for developing cocktail programs at fine establishments locally and at the internationally acclaimed Opus hotels in Vancouver and Montreal. Stanton is a native of Ottawa, Ontario. Now at Hawksworth Restaurant in the Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Stanton is part of a team that has earned this destination rave reviews, including being named Best New Restaurant in Canada in 2011 by MacLean's Magazine.

In 2011, Jonathan Smolensky's concoction 'Dalhousie' earned top spot out of more than 40 submissions by Canadian mixologists in the annual Tales of the Cocktail Vancouver Tour, a program of the New Orleans based Tales of the Cocktail - the world's premier cocktail festival - which returns to Vancouver in February 2012.

Danielle Tatarin - Keefer Bar - Gastown

Danielle Tatarin started out hosting old school cocktail parties for friends and turned her passion for the craft into an illustrious career. Tatarin has spent more than a decade honing her craft and also shares her knowledge with others as head of Designer Cocktail Company in Vancouver. As Bar Manager, Tatarin sources local ingredients from surrounding Chinatown herbalists and markets to create the pre-prohibition style drinks at the sultry and sumptuous Keefer Bar. She is a founding member and currently president of the CPBA.

Jay Jones - Market by Jean-Georges - Downtown

Jay Jones could be called a 'founding father' of the Vancouver bartending scene, but by no means would you know it by meeting him. This youthful, award-winning co-founding director of the CPBA delighted patrons of other renowned local bar and dining establishments before signing on as lead bartender for Market by Jean-Georges in the Shangri-La Hotel - the first restaurant in Canada by three-star Michelin chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Jones is a writer and Event Partner for Tales of the Cocktail on Tour. You can follow him on Twitter @Barjonesing

Lauren Mote - Kale & Nori Culinary Arts - Vancouver

A Director of the CPBA, Lauren Mote has spent more than a decade building attention for the mixology and bartending craft at numerous fine establishments in the city. She is arguably best known for her work at The Refinery on Granville Street in downtown Vancouver, where Mote helped transform customers' perceptions of mixed drinks by turning ingredients considered anathema to the cocktail into delicious wonders of chemistry. In the spring of 2011, Mote branched out to start her own restaurant-style catering company Kale & Nori Culinary Arts along with partner and acclaimed chef Jonathan Chovancek. Follow Lauren Mote on Twitter at @LaurenMote

Arthur Wynne - Cascade Room - South Main

This up-and-coming cocktail specialist who has earned his award-winning reputation mixing for the Cascade Room will soon be sharing his craft with patrons of the new Union Bar in Gastown. Wynne recently placed in the top three among contenders at the 2011 CPBA Cocktail Challenge.

Shaun Layton - L'Abattoir - Gastown

Named 2010 Bartender of the Year by Vancouver Magazine, Shaun Layton is a local mixology expert and has competed and toured in Europe. Also a Director of the CPBA, Layton is among local bartenders who can share responsibility for turning global cocktail industry heads toward Vancouver. You can find Layton's innovative cocktails at L'Abattoir in the aptly named Blood Alley in Gastown - a restaurant and lounge that has earned praise in the New York Times, GQ, Chatelaine and enRoute magazines.

View six more featured bartenders in Part II of Cocktail Alchemists...

11/30/2011 - Alchemists of the Cocktail - Vancouver Cocktail Bars On World Stage - Part II

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Part II of our look at the best Vancouver mixologists and cocktail bars on the world stage. Go to the end of the article to see the six bartenders and establishments featured in Part I.

Trevor Kallies - The Granville Room - Downtown

When he's not working as Bar and Beverage Director of the Donnelly Group of establishments in Vancouver, Trevor Kallies can be found mixing it up at cocktail competitions and bartending events around the world. In 2011 he acted as a local cocktail apprentice in the Tales of the Cocktail on Tour, which originated in New Orleans and chose Vancouver to be its first international tour stop. Kallies is a Director of the Canadian Professional Bartenders Associatio n, which strives to promote and maintain standards in the industry. You can find Kallies concocting at the Granville Room in the core of the Granville Street entertainment district. Follow him on Twitter at @tkallies.

Jay Browns - Callabash Bistro - Gastown

Another mixologist and bartender quickly earning his spot among the best in the craft is Jay Browns of Callabash Bistro, a Gastown mecca of urban art, music, fine rum and cocktails and Caribbean food that has earned rave reviews from local critics. Browns was declared the winner of the 2011 CPBA Cocktail Challenge for his creation using Flor de Canada Rum - which earned him a trip to the home of Flor de Cana and a tour of its distillery in Nicaragua.

David Wolowidnyk - West Restaurant - South Granville

A long-established fine dining restaurant in the South Granville neighbourhood, West is also the place to go for precision cocktails thanks to David Wolowidnyk. Winner of the 2007 Best Mixologist in Canada at the Grey Goose 'National Arbiter of Cool' Competition, 2008 Vancouver Magazine Bartender of the Year and 2010 Bar Chef Champion at the National Bar Chef Ketel One Competition, Wolowidnyk is known for his attention not only to detail, but to exceptional service and the enjoyment of his guests. He is also a Director and Treasurer of the CPBA. Follow him on Twitter at @drinkfixer.

Josh Pape - The Diamond - Gastown

Pape trained and worked with world renowned cocktail venues in Australia and New Zealand before returning to Vancouver and winning both the Maker's Mark cocktail competition and competing in the Gifford's Cocktail competition in France. Vancouver Magazine awarded him its first Bartender of the Year Award in 2006 and he earned the same distinction from the industry in 2009. Josh applied his gift to The Diamond, which is an intimate upstairs cocktail lounge, restaurant (and mixology school) in Gastown.

Jacob Sweetapple - Chambar - Downtown

Jacob Sweetapple honed his trade at some of the best cocktail bars in his native Australia and in New Zealand before coming to Canada. A graduate of internationally renowned bartending school Alex Beaumont in Sydney, Australia, and with a resume that includes being a brand ambassador for Absolut and a mixologist at the exclusive Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel, in the fall of 2011 Sweetapple joined Belgian restaurant Chambar as its lead bartender. His signature 'Roaming Buffalo Punch' is the official cocktail of Tales of the Cocktail on Tour Vancouver 2012.

David Bain - UVA Wine Bar - Downtown

David Bain is a native Vancouverite and Bar Manager for the award-winning UVA Wine Bar and CIBO Trattoria. He has served at some of the leading fine dining restaurants in Vancouver as well as top bars in Melbourne and Perth, Australia. Bains has earned certification at the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and is considered a favourite among peers and patrons.

Read Part I of Cocktail Alchemists

11/21/2011 - Retro Rejuvination - The Search For the Ultimate Southern Comfort Cocktail

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:00:00 GMT

It's no secret that Vancouver is the home of some of the world's best mixologists - and on November 28 they will go head to head in competition for the ultimate prize - a trip to the homeland of Southern Comfort - New Orleans.

At Ginger Sixty Two in the heart of the Granville entertainment district comes Retro Rejuvination - the first ever fundraiser for the Canadian Professional Bartenders Association. Get your tickets soon as this will sell out.

The following description is provided directly from the organizers and world renowned cocktail trailblazer Lauren Mote, whose company Kale & Nori is one of the sponsors of the event:

Last year we asked Vancouver's best bartenders to "Surpass Cuffs and Buttons" and take M.W. Heron's timeless concoction, known as Southern Comfort, to the next level. They answered the challenge admirably with dozens of entries resulting in quite possibly the best Southern Comfort cocktails, sours, punches, and smashes EVER.

Of course one bartender managed to edge out her peers to claim victory and the spoils that go along with our annual challenge: Danielle Tatarin (The Keefer Bar) and her 'Milk and Honey #8' channelled the spirit of our society's patron, M.W. Heron, by using ingredients from all over the globe - as M.W. would have done from his tavern at the global crossroads that New Orleans was back in the day.

Retro Rejuvenation is a bartender competition, mixed with the vibe and culture of the 1980's for an entire evening gone RETRO. Now, Ginger 62 Night Club, Brown-Forman Canada and The Canadian Professional Bartenders Association play host to a fun and interactive evening, celebrating the rejuvenation of all things 80's retro.

Starting at 6:00pm November 28, Bartenders will compete against one another with a rejuvenated "classic" (determined ahead of time) and make it delicious and palatable right before your eyes, using homemade syrups, pops, good spirits, garnishes, purees, jams, bitters... the sky is the limit! The top 8 bartenders are invited to compete in the finals, using their original Southern Comfort cocktail entry.

This year the challenge is to right some of the wrongs that may have been done to our venerable spirit and a few others as well. The winners? First and Second place head to New Orleans. Third place, an authentic Jack Daniel's Guitar.

Bonus Round: Ginger62 is well equipped to deal with all of your consumption needs. All products will be available, including discounted prices on CPBA punches and draft beer; maybe even shot of Jack Daniel's if you ask them politely! Ginger62 will also have their 'world famous' photo-booth available!

Details:

When? November 28 2011 6:00pm-10:00pm
Where? Ginger 62 Night Club
Competitors? A list of 20 bartenders will be revealed on event day.
Judges? A professional band of 6 judges will be revealed on event day.
Tickets: RSVPBC@CanadianBartenders.com

$10.00 cover at the door - hors d'oeuvres, drink tickets, performers, music and more!
This event is open to the public - proceeds of your ticket goes back to the Canadian Professional Bartenders Association, and back into our program schedule for 2012.
Dresscode (80's - oh yeah!) is recommended.

Sponsored by Brown-Forman Canada, The Southern Comfort Society, Ginger62 Night Club, Whistler Brewing, Kale & Nori, The CPBA. Hosted by Simon Ogden and Lauren Mote.

11/20/2011 - 2011 Grey Cup Festival Events and Live Music

Sun, 20 Nov 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Now that the finalists have been decided, our attention turns toward the festival atmosphere about to envelope Vancouver at the 99th annual Grey Cup.

The last time a host team won the Grey Cup was in 1994 (our very own BC Lions against Baltimore - and the first pro football championship in history to feature a Canada-vs-U.S. matchup).

Although technically representing the Eastern side, we at NightOutVancouver consider Winnipeg to part of our great Canadian west. We welcome Blue Bombers fans to Vancouver to join in the celebrations and spirit of the Cup. Game on!

Molson Canadian House (Official Grey Cup Venue)

Three-day wristbands for the 90,000 square feet Molson Canadian House in the Vancouver Convention Centre West are already sold out, but limited single day wristbands will be available Friday through Sunday at the door on a first-come-first-served basis.

Wristbands are $35 each including HST (ages 19+, see website for restrictions and availability). This venue will feature entertainment from some of Vancouver's legendary live bands, including Colin James, The Odds, TwoForTheShow, Barney Bentall, Jim Byrnes, and the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

Telus StreetFest (Beatty & Robson Streets)

Head down to the free PlayNow.com Main Stage to absorb the Grey Cup atmosphere and experience Vancouver's hottest musical talent. Enter to win prizes including seats to the Grey Cup itself. Live music showcase presenting sponsors include 100.5 The Peak and 99.3 The Fox. Visit the official 2011 Grey Cup website to see all 18 bands performing at this game weekend festival, including notables such as Hey Ocean!, Said the Whale, Kyprios, Head of the Herd and The Zolas. (Music line-up may be subject to change).

Feeling a little fuzzy after your night-time celebrations? Enjoy a free sausage and pancake Breakfast and some live music at Terry Fox Plaza adjacent to BC Place, brought to you by the Calgary Grey Cup Committee, which has a tradition of bringing its western hospitality to annual Grey Cups across Canada. Breakfast is from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 25 and Saturday, November 26.

Safeway Grey Cup Festival Parade, November 26 at 10:00 a.m.

'Glee' star and BC local Cory Monteith leads the 2011 parade, which starts at 10:00 a.m. at Smithe and Hornby Streets and ends at 12:00 p.m. at the Vancouver Sun FanFest in the Nissan Family Zone. Please don't forget to bring a non-perishable food donation to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, or a monetary donation to the Salvation Army's Christmas Kettle Kick-Off. Volunteers will be stationed along the parade route and the Nissan Family Zone to collect donations.

The Scotiabank Football Experience

Think you're cut out to play CFL Football? The Scotiabank Football experience at the Vancouver Convention Centre West gives you the chance to throw like a pro, kick like a field goal legend, take in a TSN broadcast and perhaps meet some of your favourite CFL greats. Also learn about our CFL football history and tradition from on-site showcases presented by the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum.

Of course, Vancouver also has plenty of non-official sites to celebrate your BC Lions or Winnipeg Blue Bombers, including some of Canada's best sports bars. Keep it safe, respect your opponents and community and most of all, have a great 2011 Grey Cup Vancouver!

For complete information on these and more Grey Cup weekend events, visit the official Vancouver 2011 Grey Cup Festival website.

11/05/2011 - Eastside Culture Crawl - Celebrating Local Artists

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 08:00:00 GMT

From November 18-20, join thousands of Vancouver art enthusiasts in touring this multi-studio visual arts exhibition in the area North of 1st Avenue to the waterfront, bordered by Victoria Drive and Main Street.

This is the 15th year of the Eastside Culture Crawl. The event began in 1997 with 45 artists in a few studios in the Strathcona neighbourhood of Vancouver; today it involves more than 300 artists, craftspeople and designers who open their studios and share their passions with a visiting public of more than 10,000.

The free, three-day exhibition also gives visitors the opportunity to buy one-of-a-kind creations from a diverse range of genres including painting, sculpture, jewellery, furniture design, photography, print making, writing, pottery making, and many more - from artists who are both established and emerging in their fields.

Hours are Friday from 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm and Saturday/Sunday from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm. Visit the Eastside Culture Crawl for more event details including an area map and online previews of artists and their works.

11/04/2011 - Hopscotch Festival 2011

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Presented by Foodconnect.com, Canada's biggest combined whiskey and beer festival returns to Vancouver November 14 - 20, giving participants an opportunity to savour the finest in high quality liquors and premium beers.

The event includes a grand tasting hall, satellite events, master classes and industry/trade tastings. The grand tasting hall features more than 60 exhibitors showcasing approximately 250 products (based on 2010 numbers).

Hopscotch is truly a beer, scotch, whiskey and premium spirit lovers dream. Centered at the Rocky Mountaineer Rail Station just east of Main street and Terminal Avenue, satellite events and master classes are happening throughout the city of Vancouver.

Many events are already sold out, but tickets to some master classes are still available.

View at http://www.hopscotchfestival.com/vancouver/master-classes

10/12/2011 - October Dining Events in Vancouver

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:00:00 GMT

The latter half of October will be host to two popular dining events - Taste of Yaletown and the Candlelight Conservation Dinner. Both give you the chance to nosh on local cuisine while taking advantage of enticing deals on prix fixe or a-la-carte menu choices.

Taste of Yaletown - October 19-30, 2011

Taste of Yaletown currently boasts more than 20 participating restaurants and bars in the converted warehouse district bordering False Creek in downtown Vancouver. You can choose from prix fixe menus priced at $25, $35 and $45 in dining atmospheres ranging from pub casual to high-end.

Visit the Yaletown Business Improvement Association to view current Taste of Yaletown menus. Proceeds from the event, presented by CIBC, will support the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Book early as popular restaurants will sell out fast.

Candlelight Conservation Dinner, October 27, 2011

Here's a great way to spark romance while saving energy: The Candlelight Conservation Dinner. The event is a project of BC Hydro Team Powersmart in partnership with tourism and community organizations and dozens of participating restaurants in Southwestern B.C., Vancouver Island and the Central and Northern Interior.

More than 40 Vancouver establishments will dim their lights to a new shade of ambience during the annual dinner, to draw attention to electricity conservation, according to local event partner Tourism Vancouver. Each will also offer a special discount or promotion to patrons in conjunction with the event.

View the list of 110 Candlelight Conservation Dinner participating restaurants around the province.

Do you know of a worthwhile dining-related fundraising event coming up in Vancouver this month? Share it in our comments section below!

10/08/2011 - Halloween Events Vancouver - 2011

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Still haven't made Halloween plans? We searched the city for some fun, unusual and downright scary ideas:

80s Pop Icons Halloween Party - Library Square Public House

Saturday, October 29 from 9:00pm - 3:00am

Dying to express your inner Bowie, Cindi Lauper, Prince or Madonna? Library Square's 80's dance party presents Pop Icon Halloween. The eighties offers no shortage of wild costume ideas. Dance the night away as 'The Affair' residents Ernold Sane & p Deady play the classics. Early bird tickets $15 | More at door

Secret Souls Walk (formerly Parade of Lost Souls)

Saturday, October 29 from 5:00 - 9:00pm

The Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret are once again lending their talents to create the Secret Souls Walk. Stay tuned to the Public Dreams Society on October 29 for the announcement of a secret starting point in the Commercial Drive neighbourhood of East Van and be ready to go: the walks "Will lead participants through 5 alleys transformed by the neighbourhood and local artists, to become a journey back in time, through past incarnations and hidden stories of Vancouver."

Follow @publicdreams on Twitter or visit www.publicdreams.org for more information. No charge for this event, but a $5 donation would be appreciated.

Dooms Night - Halloween Massive - 3D Halloween Party

Saturday, October 29 from 10:00pm - 8:00am

Join more than 4,000 other Dooms Night revelers dressed like zombies in Vancouver's first ever 3D Halloween Party. Brought to you by Solid Events, this massive all-night experience at the Pacific Coliseum will showcase an impressive line-up of the world's hottest live DJs. Tickets at Ticketmaster.

Visit the Dooms Night Facebook page for list of DJs and other ticket sales locations.

Halloween at the Waldorf Hotel

Friday, October 28 - Monday, October 31

Experience a massive, property-wide four-day Halloween party at the historic Waldorf Hotel in East Vancouver. Scary highlights include a 16-story Drop of Doom in the parking lot, Dinner for the Dead, haunted hotel rooms, the Carnival of Souls Haunted Circus (October 29th) and spooky live entertainment and music by top DJs and performing artists. Nightly admission ranges from $10 - $20 and four-day passes are $45 (early bird passes are already sold out).

On Monday, October 31, spend your Halloween night at a special 'Monster Mash' edition of the Waldorf's weekly Ice Cream Social.

HELLOWEEN Haunted Mansion Party

Friday, October 28 from 8:00pm until late

Jericho Hostel at 1515 Discovery Street on Vancouver's west side will be transformed into a multi-room, multi-floor haunted mansion featuring 6 international DJs. Tickets are $20 .

Best costume wins 2-night ski/snowboard trip to Sunpeaks Resort.

Thrill the World Vancouver

Saturday, October 29 at 7:00pm

Join in a simultaneous international 'Thriller' dance flash mob targeting a world record and to fundraise for charities. Thrill the World in Vancouver will support the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. Location TBD. No dance experience necessary, but if you want some help honing your Thriller dance moves, head down to one of the event's advance practice sessions.

Deadly Deductions - A Night of Killer Fun - Science World

Friday, October 28 from 7:00 - 10:00pm

Put on your crime-solving hat and head down to Science World to help them solve a murder. Set amongst an eerie atmosphere of questionable characters, science experiments and extinct species, tickets to this adult-only social event are $18 in advance and $25 at the door (if any left) and include one free drink. Cash bar.

Dunbar Haunted House

October 14 - 31

Now in its 7th year, this legendary haunted house is so popular that it had to be moved to a larger location in 2011. A house at 8943 Shaughnessy Street (in South Vancouver near the Oak Street Bridge) will be transformed into a scary mansion decorated with the pure intent to freak you out. Hours are Sunday to Thursday from 7-10 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 7pm-Midnight.

For brave little souls with earlier bedtimes, the house is open on Saturday and Sunday from 11am - 7pm. Adult general admission is $10 (children under 12 and daytime visitors pay $5) and proceeds go to local charities including the Fire Fighters Burn Fund. This year's theme is 'Barbaric British Columbia'.

Vancouver Police Museum Haunted Halloween Tours

October 12 - 31

In partnership with the Vancouver Trolley Company, the Vancouver Police Museum will host its ever-popular tours of the most chilling places in the city of Vancouver. These adult-oriented tours depart at 5:30, 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30pm on Wednesdays through Fridays, with an extra tour time of 9:30pm added on Friday and Saturday nights and Halloween night. Tickets are $35 each including tax.

Fright Nights PNE/Playland

October 14 - 31 Nightly from 6:00pm until late

Called "The Halloween experience for lovers of freak, horror and terror," your Fright Night Pass to this very popular Pacific National Exhibition event includes admission to five haunted houses and 16 rides (not including Hellevator, Drop Zone and Revelation).

Save $3 off admission by buying your tickets online. Ticket prices: October 28-29 $20, October 30-31 $25. Does not include parking.

10/06/2011 - Celebrating Craft Beer Month in Vancouver

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 08:00:00 GMT

If you didn't know already, it's Craft Beer Month in BC. Craft Beer Month celebrates everyone involved in the craft beer industry across the province, and the more than 50 breweries and brewpubs that contribute to our thriving craft beer community.

So, what is craft beer, exactly?

Well, according to the Campaign For Real Ale - otherwise known as CAMRA - real craft beer is regionally-made without additives and brewed in its traditional style, using traditional ingredients.

The CAMRA movement actually began in England in 1971 by beer enthusiasts angered by the replacement of traditional regional brews with factory-produced mainstream beers. Today, the volunteer-run CAMRA promotes the responsible appreciation of craft beers and survives through memberships and other sources of revenue.

British Columbia is fast-adopting a love for craft beers, and many local establishments are picking up the trend. According to a spotlight on the industry in BC Business Magazine "Over the past five years, microbrewers sales through the Liquor Distribution Branch (through which all beer flows) have doubled from about $56 million in 2007 to $111.5 million in the 12 months ended March 2011."

Here is a sampling of popular, independent craft brewery brands around British Columbia producing everything from lagers to ales to stouts:

Tree Brewing Company - Kelowna

Crannog Ales - Sorrento, in the central interior

Driftwood Brewery - Victoria

Phillips Brewing Company - Victoria

Spinnaker's Gastro Brewpub - Victoria

Swans Brewpub - Victoria

Howe Sound Inn and Brewing Company - Squamish

Dead Frog Brewery - Aldergrove, Langley

Central City Brewing - Surrey

Russell Brewing Company - Surrey

Red Truck Beer Company - North Vancouver

Dockside Brewing Company - Granville Island, Vancouver

Steamworks Brewing - Downtown Vancouver

Yaletown Brewery - Yaletown, Vancouver

Stanley Park Brewery - Vancouver

Main Street Brewing Company (brewed in partnership with Russell Brewing) - Vancouver

Storm Brewing - Commercial Drive, Vancouver

Occasionally you might see an advertisement for a pouring of 'real ale' or cask-conditioned beer. Very basically, cask ales continue to ferment (or mature) in their casks and get their carbonation through secondary fermentation in the cask, rather than human infusion of carbon dioxide. These are considered by aficionados to be the finest of craft beers.

'Cask nights' are increasingly popular social events in Vancouver, and there is no shortage of local brew pubs and establishments offering a chance to taste limited edition casks - a must-try if you're into craft brews. But get there early, as they often run dry.

We've designated a special category of our directory to establishments that serve craft beers. By no means is it an exhaustive list. We encourage you to recommend your favourite pubs and breweries serving craft beers with readers in our comments section!

09/08/2011 - Best Sports Bars in Vancouver - Part I

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 08:00:00 GMT

With The NFL season kicking off today, the English Premier League (EPL) well underway, World Cup Rugby teams heading into the scrum, UFC fights in full swing and NHL hockey lacing up - not to mention the 2011 CFL Grey Cup in Vancouver - this is the perfect time to check out some of the most popular sports-watching venues around Vancouver.

You can find televisions in nearly every dining and drinking establishment these days, but a few locations stand out as catering to sports fans with multiple viewing vantage points, satellite feeds, team atmospheres and game-day specials.

We found 14 local bars and eateries that fit the bill - so many in fact that we've split this blog into two parts.

Cinema Public House - Downtown Granville
Shaping up as a destination for catching Monday Night Football. With weekly Sports Trivia (every Monday at 5:30 p.m.), prizes, cheap beers and other specials, along with a central location on downtown Granville Street - NFL game nights here are sure to attract a fan following. Also shows Vancouver Canucks/NHL and other featured games in HD.

Dover Arms - Denman Street, West End
The Dover Arms is arguably THE Vancouver destination for watching English Premier League and European/international football. Founded in 1975, it attracted loyal patrons and newcomers to watch live football broadcasts when matches were almost impossible to find anywhere else in the city. Today, the Dover Arms broadcasts MLS, Vancouver Canucks/NHL games, UFC & boxing matches and CFL/NFL games.

Red Card Sports Bar - 900 Seymour Street / Moda Hotel Downtown
This newer local eatery is a hybrid between a nightclub and sports theatre. On weekends in this upscale sports-viewing venue you'll also see party-goers dressed up for a night on the town. If you like people-watching mixed with your sports, this is your spot. Televised games include Setanta Sports (English Premier League, international football/soccer matches), Major League Baseball (MLB), CFL, NFL, UFC, NHL, MLS and Sportsnet broadcasts (Canucks).

The Shark Club - Georgia Street about two blocks from Rogers Arena
The spacious Shark Club is a Vancouver favourite and has stood the test of time in this city. It's often packed right before Canucks and BC Lions games due to its proximity to Rogers Arena and BC Place and fills up fast post-game. With 40 42" HD televisions and four 9' projection screens, sports-viewing here isn't limited to the NHL. The Shark Club also features UFC matches, MLB, NFL/Monday Night Football and CFL game day/night events and specials.

Library Square Public House - Next to Vancouver Public Library, Downtown
Watching Canada win the 2010 Winter Olympic Gold Medal Hockey game in this venue will be etched in our memories forever. The proximity of this bar to local Rogers Arena and BC Place makes it a popular pit stop both before, during and after Vancouver Canucks games. Televisions run the length of the bar and a giant projector screen on game nights makes for a good selection of viewing spots.

Malone's Urban Drinkery - 608 West Pender Street, Downtown
Malone's is a destination for both beer enthusiasts and sports fans. In addition to a large selection of regional craft beers, the establishment advertises that whether its English Premier League, international and World Cup rugby, NHL, CFL or NFL - if they can find, they'll play it. Malone's offers daily food and drink specials.

G Sports Bar - Granville Street, Downtown
G Sports Bar has "Won the title of best sports bar in Western Canada" according to its website. The room is all HD, with 24 televisions, a 9' projection screen, seven satellite feeds and a private 30-seat VIP viewing room (which can be reserved separately). The venue features Vancouver Canucks/NHL, MLB, NFL/Monday Night Football, UFC, rugby and EPL (with an affinity for Liverpool FC). Daily food and drink specials.

Continue to Part II of Best Sports Bars in Vancouver.

09/08/2011 - Best Sports Bars in Vancouver - Part II

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Our list of sports bars in Vancouver continues with more downtown establishments plus a few in other neighbourhoods, including South Main/E.Broadway, Kitsilano, UBC and the North Shore.

With so many venues televising sports across this city, we've likely missed a few local favourites, so if you've got any recommendations, we welcome your comments along with the best sports to watch at your local.

The Forum Sports Bar - Granville Street, Downtown
The Forum is a sports bar that by late night becomes a popular nightclub and entertainment venue. Its exposed brick walls are plastered with HD televisions along with a large projection screen, and it's best known for its Vancouver Canucks/NHL, NFL/Monday Night Football and UFC fights night events and specials, which include football pools and jersey giveaways.

The Score on Davie Street - West End
This GLBT-friendly sports bar is one of the top-rated in Vancouver. Renovated in 2006, the establishment has strategically-placed televisions throughout and a 71" plasma screen in the main room. With televised Vancouver Canucks/NHL, MLB (Toronto Blue Jays & Seattle Mariners), UFC, NFL and CFL games. Burger, wings and Granville Island beer specials during every featured game.

Smiley's Public House - West Pender Near Burrard, Downtown
We know of a few people who sneak away for "coffee breaks" and "lunch meetings" to take in the latest English Premier League, UEFA Champions League and rugby match scores at this pub in the heart of the Vancouver business district. A modern and inviting establishment, Smiley's often posts matches and specials for that day on a sandwich board that you will see positioned right outside their entrance, so you won't miss it. Smiley's also shows Vancouver Canucks/NHL and other big games.

Local Public Eatery - Kitsilano
There's more to Local than its famous patio across from Kits Beach. This is also a prime spot for watching sports in the Kitsilano neighbourhood. With HD televisions surrounding the establishment, there are plenty of vantage points for watching Vancouver Canucks/NHL, CFL and NFL games while taking in the always-busy social atmosphere in this restaurant/bar. Nightly food and drink specials.

Black Bear Neighbourhood Pub - Lynn Valley Road, North Vancouver
This award-winning pub is a destination for residents of North Vancouver and tourists visiting the area. HD televisions are positioned throughout the bar and there is a projection TV on the veranda. Its warm neighbourhood atmosphere attracts a full house for Canucks games and also features televised NFL/Monday Night Football, CFL, Whitecaps/MLS, EPL and UEFA football games, NBA and PGA Tour Golf.

Mahony & Sons - University of British Columbia & Downtown Vancouver
Think you've seen every sport available to watch in this city? Well, Mahony & Sons just might have you beat. Hurling and other Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) events are broadcast at this popular Irish pub and live music venue, in addition to EPL/international football, NFL, Vancouver Canucks/NHL and World Cup rugby. The pub sometimes opens early for big matches.

By no means are these the only places to watch sports in Vancouver. You can find these and more under the Bars tab on our website, which has its own sub-category of 20 televised sports venues in the city and links to their websites.

09/06/2011 - Hapa-Palooza - Celebrating Mixed Roots Arts and Ideas

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 08:00:00 GMT

In the 2006 Canadian Census, Vancouver was reported as having the largest number of mixed unions of urban centres in the country at 8.5 percent of all couples. Nationally, the Census figure was 5.1 percent.*

So what defines a mixed union, and what are the experiences of those living in cross-cultural relationships, their families and children? Coming from a mixture of distinct cultures (or even just knowing your ancestry) and the richness of education, tradition and cultural experience that comes from that is celebratory; but for many youth, identity questions and struggles can accompany being a descendant of mixed roots.

From September 7-10, the Hapa-Palooza festival aims to open up dialogue and interaction on the realities of identifying with mixed roots in this city and beyond, especially among young persons. At the same time, it aims to showcase the finest mixed roots artists in the city and celebrate the rich cultural diversity of Vancouver.

Hapa-Palooza by definition: "A vibrant fusion of music, dance, literary, artistic and film performances, Hapa-Palooza places prominence on celebrating and stimulating awareness of mixed-roots identity, especially amongst youth."

Approximately 35 talented artists, musicians, poets (including spoken word) and emcees will participate in the inaugural event designed to promote "synergy, hybridity and acceptance" among us all.

Events take place at the Vancouver Public Library, Robson Square and the Roundhouse Performance Space, and are made possible by the City of Vancouver's 125th Anniversary Grants Program, with participation by the Government of Canada.

Tickets at www.hapapalooza.ca. Follow @Hapapalooza on Twitter.

*Statistical source: Canadian Immigration Report, April 27, 2010

08/30/2011 - Labour Day Long Weekend Events - 2011

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Wondering what to do on Labour Day weekend? We've scoured the local scene to find some of the must-see events happening around Vancouver. Some of the following are ticketed so get yours early.

September 3-5 - Telus TaiwanFest on Granville Street - Free

The street banquet, one of the most important forms of celebration in Taiwanese culture, will be brought to life on Granville Street this weekend at TaiwanFest. Part of VIVA Vancouver 125, celebrating Vancouver's 125^th anniversary, the event takes place from 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Saturday/Sunday and until 6:00 p.m. on Monday.

September 4^th at 7:00 p.m. - iFiesta 125! A Celebration of Latin American Culture in Vancouver - A VIVA Vancouver Event

The Vancouver Latin American Film Festival is hosting a party featuring short films and Vancouver-based Latin American musicians. The event happens at District 319 at 319 Main Street. Only 77 tickets left at the time of this publication.

September 2-4 - Jazz on Whistler Mountain

The south coast's newest jazz festival, Whistler JazzFest happens from September 2-4 and features well-known artists such as Jay Leno Show band leader Kevin Eubanks, Spyro Gyra, the Oliver Jones Trio and Stanley Jordan. Purchase tickets online at www.whistlerjazzfest.com or at the Whistler JazzFest box office.

Hey Ocean! September 5^th at the PNE

Popular Vancouver trio Hey Ocean! caps off the Pacific National Exhibition Summer Sessions nightly concert series on September 5^th. Listen to Hey Ocean!'s latest single on Facebook. Concerts are free with PNE admission.

Around Town: Labour Day Bar/Pub Long Weekend Events

80's Night at the Charles Bar - Sunday, September 4
If you grew up in the 80's, you probably don't have to dig too far to find your leg warmers, mesh tank tops, Docksiders and starched polo shirts. If not, watch the movie Valley Girl or Risky Business then head to your nearest thrift store and get ready to laugh and relive the coolest tunes of the 80's at the Charles Bar. Like, for sure!

Labour Day Luau - Blarney Stone - Sunday, September 4
Baby it's getting colder outside, but not inside the Blarney Stone. Sport your best coconuts and grass skirts and head to the Blarney for the second annual Labour Day Luau featuring DJ The Big Kahuna and live band Dance Mob.

Backstage Lounge - Friday, September 2 to Sunday, Sept. 4
If you're not into dressing up in costume, chill out with some smooth music over the weekend at the Backstage Lounge. Tri-national Reggae roots band Rootsystem performs Friday night, followed by Shah DJ's on Saturday and DNA 6 with DJ Static on Sunday.

Jazz Cellar Live Jazz - September 2-4
Human Spirit featuring Thomas Marriott, Matt Taylor and Matt Jorgenson performs Friday and Saturday, September 2-3, at the Jazz Cellar, which is host to some of the best-known talents in jazz and soul. On Sunday, catch the Myles Bigalow Band and absorb some Cuban-inspired soul and jazz.

Waldorf Hotel - Pit Masters & Pour Masters - September 4
Head down to the Waldorf on September 4 between 4:00 - 10:30 p.m. for all-you-can-eat BBQ sponsored by Vancouver street food cart mavericks Re-Up BBQ and the Okanagan Valley's Tantalus Wines. The event is presented by the East Vancouver Wine Society and advance tickets are $20.

Revel Room - Live Jazz/Old Country by Black Gardenia - September 4
Every Sunday from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m., the Revel Room hosts 7-member jazz group Black Gardenia with lead vocalist Daphne Roubini from London, England - otherwise known as "The first lady of Uke."

Summer Series Patio Party III - The Lamplighter Public House - September 4
From 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. drink cask beer and listen to "Feel good summer jams" at the Summer Series Patio Party III, hosted by the Lamplighter Public House. Taste brews by R&B Brewing Co., Driftwood Brewery, Howe Sound Brewery, Philips Brewery, Granville Island Brewery and Central City Brewing.

08/24/2011 - Vancouver International Fringe Festival

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:00:00 GMT

One of the most popular and eclectic theatre and entertainment festivals in Vancouver and beyond, The Fringe Festival runs from September 8 - 18, 2011 and kicks off with Opening Night: Resistance is Futile! at Performance Works on Granville Island at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, September 6th.

In typical Fringe tongue-in-cheek fashion, festival-goers are invited to buy opening night tickets in three price categories: 'Shouting Distance', 'Throwing Distance' or 'Spitting Distance' (only 30 spitting distance tickets are available).

The Vancouver International Fringe Festival is in its 27th year and is produced by the First Vancouver Theatrespace Society. It is the largest theatre festival in British Columbia and the most international fringe festival in North America.

This year's event will feature more than 600 performances. To ensure true representation by a kaleidoscope of talented fringe performers, Fringe Festival artists are chosen by non-juried lottery (quote: "Yes, we literally draw shows out of a hat!"). And 100% of the proceeds of this non-profit event goes back to the artists.

The closing night Fringe Awards are on September 18th and tickets for this event are severely limited. However, the festival invites you to a closing night party later at the St. Ambroise Fringe Bar at the Agro Cafe (1363 Railspur Alley, feat. DJ Tristan Orchard), where great music and fun live performances are also happening throughout the festival.

For more information and the myriad locations on and around Granville Island where you can enjoy performances during the 11-day festival, check out the Fringe Festival Program Guide online or at Blenz Coffee locations in Vancouver.

Follow the Fringe Fest on Twitter @VancouverFringe

08/21/2011 - Summer Night Concerts - PNE Fair

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Enjoy live concerts beginning at 8:00 pm every night on the outdoor WestJet Concert Stage during the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver. Access to the concerts is included with your purchase of a PNE fair gate admission pass, which costs $20 at the gate
or $16.80 online at www.pne.ca or at 7-Eleven or Safeway locations across the lower mainland.

Concert-goers ages 19+ can view the stage from bleachers located in the on-site beer garden. This year, the WestJet World Class Bistro also offers a combination three-course dinner menu and prime VIP concert seating (limited to 150 tickets per show). Dinner seating times are at 5:00 pm, 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm nightly and online reservations start at $50 per person, per concert.

Nightly 8:00 pm concert listing as of August 21, 2011:

Sunday, August 21 - Shane Harper & Bridgit Mendler
Monday, August 22 - Crystal Shawanda
Tuesday, August 23 - Chris Isaak
Wednesday August 24 - Serena Ryder and the Beauties
Thursday, August 25 - En Karma & South Asian Arts
Friday, August 26 - Air Supply (35th Anniversary)
Saturday, August 27 - Kim Mitchell
Sunday, August 28 - Lea Salonga
Monday, August 29 - Kenny Rogers
Tuesday, August 30 - Donny Osmond
Wednesday, August 31 - Annual evening with 'Elvis'
Thursday, September 1 - Wilson Phillips
Friday, September 2 - Daryl Hall & John Oates (tour)
Saturday, September 3 - Delhi 2 Dublin
Sunday, September 4 - Stereos
Monday, September 5 - Hey Ocean! and Andrew Allen

Nightly concert seating is festival-style and is on a first-come first-served basis.

08/15/2011 - International Pop Overthrow (IPO)

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:00:00 GMT

From August 30 to September 3, 2011, The Railway Club will host the Vancouver leg of this growing international live music event. International Pop Overthrow began 13 years ago in Los Angeles, California and has since spread to cities in the U.S., Canada and England.

The goal of International Pop Overthrow, otherwise known as IPO, is to give the world's best (and up-and-coming) pop music artists the chance to play in a festival atmosphere, have fun, grow their fan bases and generate buzz to get the attention of influential record labels.

Between 25-180 bands can perform at any given event location. According to the IPO website, Vancouver's iconic and intimate live music venue The Railway Club is scheduled to host 40 live bands over five nights and is the only venue where you can experience the 2011 festival stop in Vancouver.

Performers (as listed on the IPO website - subject to change) include:

64 Funnycars
Laurie Biagini
The Bristol Scout
Graham Brown Band
Columbia Records and Tapes
Duvallstar
Danny Echo
Edmonton Block Heater
The Gentle Infidels
Paul Gibbons
Go Four 3
The Irises
Patrick Jacobson
The Jardines
Koralee
The Light Machines
Dee Long
Camille Miller
The New Black
The Orchid Highway
Pepper Sands
Preston & Fletcher
Rocky Jr.
S.K. Robot
Riley Smith
The Top Drawers
The Touch & Gos
The Whethermen
Yes Nice

Bands listed from outside of Vancouver include: Dave Rave, Sidney York, Fleur Jack and the Jandals.

Check the Railway Club calendar for the latest schedule. Annual membership at the Railway Club is $10. Visit the venue's website, Facebook or Twitter page to get in touch with the club or keep up to date on any schedule changes.

08/11/2011 - KitsFest August 12-14

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Celebrate healthy lifestyles and enjoy sports and tournament action at KitsFest, happening this weekend at Kits Beach - ranked by Forbes magazine as one of the sexiest beaches in North America.

The event runs from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm daily and the weather forecast is for sunshine and warm beach weather. Here is a sampling of the many activities happening throughout the weekend:

Beach Ice Hockey tournament presented by MolsonCoors

Other sports competitions, including tennis, basketball, beach volleyball

Top Vancouver DJs spinning Mowtown and R&B classic tunes

Nintendo 3DS Tour - experience Nintendo's latest 3D graphics without the need for special glasses

Games, activities and facepainting for younger beach-goers

There will be a bistro on site presented by Local Public Eatery, Chronic Tacos and the Boathouse on Kits Beach.

Bring your beach stuff, sunglasses and most importantly - sunscreen - stake your base camp on Kits Beach or at Kits Pool, then take in the KitsFest scenery!

Full event information at KitsFest.com

07/31/2011 - MusicFest Vancouver - August 5-14, 2011

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Celebrate the finest in world, classical and jazz music at one of 45 concerts in Vancouver during MusicFest. This is the 11th year of the performing arts celebration, which features world-famous musicians and runs from August 5-14 in venues throughout the city, including:

Chan Centre for the Performing Arts - University of British Columbia (UBC) campus

Christ Church Cathedral, corner of Georgia & Burrard Streets

Cellar Jazz Club, 3611 West Broadway Street (Kitsilano)

The Orpheum, corner of Smithe & Seymour Streets

Roy Barnett Music Hall, UBC School of Music

Norman Rothstein Theatre, 950 West 41st Avenue (near Oak Street)

VanDusen Botanical Garden, Oak Street @ 37th Avenue

Vogue Theatre, 918 Granville Street

For a complete list of venue performances and ticketing information, visit the MusicFest website.

07/27/2011 - SHOREfest - Celebration of Light

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:00:00 GMT

As part of the 2011 Celebration of Light fireworks competition between China, Canada and Spain, local Vancouver radio station Shore 104.3 FM will host free live music performances at Vanier Park and Kits Beach leading up to the shows.

Here are this year's SHOREfest artists/bands and locations:

Rogue Stage, Vanier Park 7-10 pm

July 30

No Sinner
Kevin Kane (of Grapes of Wrath)

August 3

Paul Pigat
The Sojourners

August 6

Leeroy Stagger
Headwater

YVR Community Stage, Kits Beach

July 30, 5-9 pm

Ryan McAllister
Billy the Kid
Prairie Dance Club
Randy Ponzio of Quest Poetics

August 3, 6-9 pm

Sheree Plett
Ben Sigston
The Matinee

August 6, 5-9 pm

The Sumner Brothers
Steph Macpherson
Freeflow
Zaac Pick (2010 Song Search Winner)

The Celebration of Light begins at 10 pm.

07/23/2011 - Fireworks - Celebration of Light

Sat, 23 Jul 2011 08:00:00 GMT

The Celebration of Light is Vancouver's most popular annual fireworks display, attracting hundreds of thousands of viewers who gather to watch the pyrotechnics from vantage points around English Bay, Granville Island and Kitsilano.

In 2011, China (July 30), Spain (August 3) and Canada (August 6) will compete to see who puts on the best show. The fireworks run from 10:00 - 10:25 pm. Music arranged for each performance by participating countries is simulcast on Shore 104.3 fm.

The best viewing spots in the city are at Vanier Park, Kits Point, English Bay and various locations around Stanley Park, Sunset Beach and the West End.

Learn about the event, viewing locations, public transit, parking and more at www.vancouverfireworks.ca

07/21/2011 - 2011 Vancouver Pride Parade & Festival

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Vancouver's 33rd Pride Parade takes place in downtown Vancouver on July 31st, and this time the Mayor WILL attend (at least we think so). According to the Vancouver Pride Society (VPS), more than 640,000 people came out to enjoy last year's parade, which is the largest of its kind
in Western Canada.

The VPS brings together the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities, their friends and families for a fun, educational and peaceful celebration of diversity and inclusivity.

Here are a few events that you can look forward to leading up to and during the Festival:

Saturday, July 23 - Picnic in the Park

Brockton Oval, Stanley Park, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. - FREE

This event is a celebration for the entire family and includes activities for children. Guests can enjoy a BBQ and a beer garden with live dj music.

Tuesday & Wednesday, July 26-27 - Queer Arts Festival - $12 in advance, $15-20 Door (TBA)

Roundhouse Theatre, Yaletown, from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm

VPS partners with the Queer Arts Festival for two days to bring audiences a diverse exhibition of dance, music, theatre, variety and comedy performances.

Friday, July 29 - Caya Davie Street Dance Party - General Admission $10

Davie Village from Burrard past Bute St. 7:00 pm to 12:00 am. Powered by Telus.

Enjoy the event of the season as Pride takes over Davie Street with live music, dancing, street vendors and colorful costumes.

For more events, ticketing and contact information, visit vancouverpride.ca

07/12/2011 - Vancouver Folk Music Festival Jul 15-17

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:00:00 GMT

2011 Vancouver Folk Music Festival Tempts With Free Downtown Performances...

The internationally-acclaimed Vancouver Folk Music Festival returns to Jericho Beach Park this weekend, and its diversity continues to impress.

Festival founders held their first concert 34 years ago in Stanley Park; today, the all-weather Festival takes over the park area behind Jericho Beach in Kitsilano for three days and nights and attracts visitors numbering in the tens of thousands.

Music begins at 10:00 am on July 15 and ends at 11:00 pm on Sunday, July 17, with a Festival Finale featuring Emmanuel Jal. Jal is a soul/rap/hip-hop artist who developed his lyrical and social consciousness as a war child in Southern Sudan. His industry successes include being featured alongside Cold Play, Gorillaz and Radiohead on the 'Warchild - Help a Day in the Life' album.

The Folk Music Fest stage schedule is too vast to mention here (there will be seven performance stages), but no doubt you will recognize a who's-who of local and international talent in folk, hip-hop, jazz, world, country and roots music on the list.

For those who can't make it to the weekend festival, organizers have arranged free afternoon performances on Granville and Hamilton/Georgia Streets beginning on Wednesday, July 13. Dates and locations are as follows:

CBC Plaza @ Hamilton & Georgia

Noon, July 13: Ti-Coca and Wanga Neges
Noon, July 15: Imaginary Cities

Granville Street Entertainment District

Noon, July 15 at Tom Lee Music: The Hawaiian Legends
1:00 pm, July 15 at 700 block of Granville Street: Nomadic Caravan

Advance ticket sales end Thursday, July 14 at 2 pm; after that, 1,000 tickets to the festival will be made available nightly after 5 pm, at the park gate (Saturday and Sunday only). Cost is $40 each.

The Folk Festival atmosphere is all about inclusiveness, social responsibility and community. NO bottled water will be sold at this year's festival and visitors are asked to bring their own refillable containers. Water stations will be positioned throughout the venue and keeper bottles will be sold at the merchandise tent for patrons who forget their own. All utensils and plates will be made of biodegradable materials, and recycling bins will be located on site for disposal of personal food waste and garbage.

Hungry festival-goers will find no shortage of food choices scattered throughout the grounds.

07/12/2011 - Parks Day 2011 - K'Naan & The Sheepdogs

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Parks Canada will celebrate its centennial on Saturday, July 16, with celebrations in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.

The highlight of the 100th anniversary event will be a free concert at Brockton Point in Stanley Park by Canadian artists K'Naan, The Sheepdogs and Kate Morgan.

Somalian-born, socially-conscious Canadian musician K'Naan is best known internationally for his song 'Wavin' Flag'. The song dominated playlists during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver and in the months leading up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup (it was re-mixed and released as the official song of FIFA 2010 sponsor Coca Cola). Disappointingly, 'Wavin' Flag was usurped as the official World Cup anthem by the Shakira ditty 'Waka Waka'. (And honestly, we couldn't remember a bar of that tune if you paid us).

The Sheepdogs are a rousing, dirt-stomping Saskatchewan-based band whose unique brand of roots rock sounds like a cross between Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top and early Kings of Leon. The band is on a rocket to international recognition as a finalist in the Rolling Stone magazine cover contest. The Sheepdogs are handling the attention with good humour - evident in their memorable improv performance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon on June 15, 2011.

Also performing is Virgin Radio's 'Best of BC' artist, 17-year-old Kate Morgan from Kamloops. Morgan has already performed alongside Sheryl Crow and Sarah McLachlan as the youngest performer at Lilith Fair 2010 in Calgary, Alberta.

Olympic Gold Medalist Maelle Ricker will make an appearance (hopefully with her gold medal in hand) and there will be plenty of daytime activities for families and children.

Established in 1911, Parks Canada is the world's oldest national parks system. Parks Day kicks off at Noon on Saturday and musical performances begin at 4 pm. Follow Parks Canada on Twitter.

07/05/2011 - Summer Live July 8-10

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Vancouver continues its summer-long 125th anniversary party July 8-10 with Summer Live, a showcase of free outdoor concerts and activities in beautiful Stanley Park. The festival begins at Noon on Friday, July 8th and continues through Sunday, featuring some of Canada's and Vancouver's hottest live bands and artists performing on three stages.

Performance highlights include:

Neko Case
The New Pornographers
Dan Mangan
Mother Mother
Daniel Wesley
Kyprios
Said the Whale
Spirit of the West
Hannah Georgas
Barney Bentall and the Legendary Hearts
Hey Ocean!
En Karma
The Zolas
Renowned Indian violinist Dr. L. Subramaniam
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

Several transportation options to Stanley Park are available. A free shuttle will also run from downtown's Waterfront Station between 11:00 am and 11:00 pm daily. For cyclists, the City of Vancouver has arranged for a free, secure bicycle compound at Brockton Point.

For complete details visit the Summer Live website or view the concert schedule (pdf).

06/25/2011 - Picnic at the Bard

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Want a great idea for a date? Why not treat your love interest or summer fling to a fabulous pre-Bard picnic courtesy of Emelle's Catering Ltd.

The 2011 Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival has partnered with Emelle's to offer theatre patrons delicious picnic packages to enjoy in Vanier Park prior to each performance.

Bard Picnics must be ordered at least 48 hours in advance and can be picked up at the box office prior to that evening's performance. Gourmet selections range from focaccia sandwiches and salad to antipasto, artisan cheeses and wild BC Sockeye salmon. Vegetarian options are also available. Picnic prices start at only $15.95 per person.

A limited number of picnic tables are located in the Bard village but we really think there's nothing like lounging on the grass under the evening sun on a big blanket. Just be sure to give yourself enough time. Picnics can be picked up up to two hours before curtain.

This year, the extremely popular Bard festival features some of Shakespeare's most famous plays, including As You Like It, The Merchant of Venice, Henry VI and Richard III. This isn't your high school Shakespeare class.

Bard on the Beach runs until September 24. For more information, check out the Bard on the Beach website.

06/24/2011 - TD Jazz Festival Kicks Off June 24

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:00:00 GMT

The 26th annual TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival kicks off Friday, June 24th with a stellar line-up of accomplished and up-and-coming musical artists from around the world.

The 10-day event presents both ticketed and free performances across the city and on the North Shore. This is BC's biggest music festival and it attracts hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors to celebrate the best in jazz, blues, funk, roots and world music.

The TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival is arguably among the top jazz festivals in the world. Feature artists at this year's event include:

Wynton Marsalis
Paco de Lucia
Lucinda Williams
Steve Earle
Blonde Redhead
Robert Glasper Trio
Colin James
Madeleine Peyroux

And many more....

Don't miss this amazing music experience. For complete details, stage venues, ticket availability and pricing, visit the Coastal Jazz & Blues Society website.

We've also added free performance locations and dates to our mobile calendar.

06/11/2011 - Sustainable Seafood in Vancouver

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Oceanwise is an educational program for consumers created by the Vancouver Aquarium in 2005 in partnership with C Restaurant - one of Vancouver's most acclaimed fine-dining seafood restaurants. The organization's aim is to promote the responsible enjoyment of seafood in our city. The program expanded nationally in 2009.

Oceanwise was made possible by a founding grant from the David & Lucille Packard Foundation. The program "Works directly with restaurants, markets, food services and suppliers ensuring that they have the most current scientific information regarding seafood and helping them make ocean-friendly buying decisions."

There are more than 250 restaurants in southwestern B.C. that now proudly display the Oceanwise symbol on their menus to help educate patrons about endangered species in our oceans.

When visiting websites of seafood restaurants, look for the Oceanwise symbol and help to protect this essential and healthy food staple, as well as ocean habitats, for generations to come.

Find an Oceanwise partner restaurant nearest you.

06/07/2011 - No Reservations: the Best in Vancouver Street Food

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 08:00:00 GMT

For a true culinary adventure, leave the brick and mortar behind and take a tour of Vancouver's street food scene.

In 2010, the City of Vancouver set out to relax restrictions on the number of mobile food vendors allowed on popular pedestrian routes throughout the city. The result was an explosion in gourmet street cuisine ranging from French-Canadian poutine to Korean-style tacos.

With 17 street food vendors approved as part of
a City pilot expansion program in 2010 and 19 more approved in 2011, the competition is heating up. The City has plans to increase the number of street food vendors by 60 over the next four years.

Here are five food cart locations that consistently rank among local favourites. When in Vancouver, sample their delicious twists on traditional urban fare:

Cartel Taco

Located at the intersection of Dunsmuir and Hamilton streets in the Yaletown district of Vancouver, Cartel Taco is an experience in Asian-Mexican fusion. Partners Joel Watanabe, Jesse Grasso and James Iranzad have a combined forty years of experience as local chefs and restaurateurs. Their hand-made pork, beef and vegetarian tacos are prepared in the Korean Bulgogi style and use only locally-grown and organic ingredients.

Japadog

Have you ever taken a bite out of a cheese smokie topped with seaweed, wasabi mayo and teriyaki sauce? If not, meet Japadog. You can't miss the lunchtime lineups at the flagship downtown location at the corner of Burrard and Smithe streets. The inspiration of former Japanese ad salesman turned entrepreneur Noriki Tamura, Japadog has been a fixture on the Vancouver street food scene since 2005 and attracts celebrities and media eager to explore its unique interpretations of the traditional hot dog.

PanDa Fresh Bakery

Next time you are craving a piece of New York cheesecake and a lady finger stuffed inside a French croissant, head directly to the PanDa Fresh Bakery next to David Lam Park in Yaletown. Brothers Derek and Michael Ip have thought of every stuffed, sweet and savory croissant imaginable - from green tea ice cream to macaroni and cheese - all served from a converted school bus.

Roaming Dragon

Roaming Dragon creators Jory Simkin and Jason Apple launched their mobile Pan-Asian menu in 2010 in consultation with local executive chef Don Letendre. By 2011, the Roaming Dragon had already reached the top of the street food chain, earning the Vancouver Magazine restaurant award for best food cart in the city. The @dragontruck uses Twitter to reveal its locations to followers salivating over the next chance to bite into its steamed pork buns, duck confit salad and short ribs.

The Kaboom Box

On the northwest corner of Robson and Granville, in the heart of Vancouver's entertainment district, The Kaboom Box serves up an eclectic mix of traditional Canadian fare made using sustainable ingredients. Best known for its smoked salmon 'salmwich' and traditional Canadian poutine served with mushroom gravy and cheese curds, this food cart prides itself on using only local meat, seafood and vegetarian ingredients. Creator Andrew Fielding is a veteran street food vendor from San Francisco.

As the Vancouver street food scene gains popularity, more flavors will emerge to entertain the palates of locals and visitors alike.

Download the free Street Food Vancouver app to plan your culinary tour a la cart.

06/06/2011 - Welcome to NightOutVancouver.com

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 08:00:00 GMT

Welcome to the new NightOutVancouver.com - your soon-to-be-one-stop resource for inside information on dining, accommodation, night clubs and entertainment in greater Vancouver.

Our goal is to become the source for those wanting to experience the local flavour of Vancouver: we're out to profile a more interesting variety of accommodations, artists, food and events than you will find on most tourism sites.

We're part of a growing international network of Night Out affiliates in more than 250 locations in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. And yes, there's an app for that.

As soon as our calendar is up and running, NightOutVancouver will be available for download on iPhone and Android. We've just started adding new content so please be patient.

If you're interested in advertising, please send us an email to ask about rates. Our site is designed for optimum advertising visibility and value.

If you're a local band or artist, don't hesitate to upload your bio, demos and dates for your upcoming gigs - it's free!

www.NightOutVancouver.com - Blog - RSS feed

04/26/2012 - Tripping the Light Hoptastic - Vancouver Craft Beer Week May 18-26

04/09/2012 - The Return of the Spot Prawn: 2012 Spot Prawn Festival, May 5

03/26/2012 - Dining Out For Life 2012 - Vancouver Restaurants Support Local HIV/AIDS Programs

Who Benefits From Dining Out For Life?

03/11/2012 - HULLABALOO 2012 - BC's Best and Brightest Slam Poets

Hullabaloo 2012 Schedule at a Glance

For more information and tickets, visit http://youthslam.ca

02/03/2012 - ComedyFest Coming to Vancouver February 16-25!

01/25/2012 - Chinese New Year 2012 - Vancouver Food and Festivals

Where to Eat

Vancouver Chinese Restaurants Rated by Diners and Critics

Dine Out Vancouver - Search by Cuisine Type

Lunar New Year Events & Festivals Happening this Weekend

01/18/2012 - City and Slope - Skiing & Snowboarding Meets Downtown Lights

01/09/2012 - 2012 Vancouver International Wine Festival

01/01/2012 - Opting Out of Dine Out? Try FeastVan

FeastVan

01/01/2012 - Dine Out Vancouver 2012: 10th Anniversary Festival

12/28/2011 - More New Year's Eve Event Ideas

Still haven't made your Vancouver New Year's Eve plans? We found more restaurants, lounges and bars around town planning parties to help you and your friends ring in 2012.

Whether it's dinner, dancing or showing off your best formal attire, one of these events is sure to fit your agenda.

Check our New Year's Eve Calendar for more information and direct links to the following websites:

Let's Just Party - New Year's Eve Party

New Year's Eve at Raw Canvas - No Cover

New Year's Eve at Cibo Trattoria

New Year's Eve Party - Live Reggae Band

New Year's Eve at Chambar

New Year's Eve at Yaletown Brewing Company

New Year's Eve House Party - Downtown & Kitsilano

Twenty Twelve New Year's Eve Party

New Year's Eve Party - For Canucks Autism Network

New Year's Eve at The Oakwood

New Year's Eve - Dueling Piano Party

New Year's Eve at Ensemble Tap - No Cover

80s New Year

Live Jazz - Mike Allen Quartet (Including New Year's Eve)

Links and details on Night Out New Year's Eve Calendar

12/21/2011 - Wild and Wacky Holiday and New Year's Eve Events in Vancouver

The Ugly Sweater Party at Ceili's Granville

Fire & Ice Show - Whistler Blackcomb - FREE

The Zombie Formal at Tunnel Nightclub

FMA Cabaret New Year's Eve - Prohibited

Sljivovica Social Club at Raw Canvas - NO COVER

Goin' to The Chapel

Dueling Piano Party at The Manchester Bar

New Year's Eve at The Bourbon - Vancouver's Only Country Bar

Check out more of our 2012 New Year's Eve finds http://www.nightoutvancouver.com/events/2011-12-31

11/30/2011 - Alchemists of the Cocktail - Vancouver Cocktail Bars On World Stage - Part I

11/30/2011 - Alchemists of the Cocktail - Vancouver Cocktail Bars On World Stage - Part II

11/21/2011 - Retro Rejuvination - The Search For the Ultimate Southern Comfort Cocktail

11/20/2011 - 2011 Grey Cup Festival Events and Live Music

Molson Canadian House (Official Grey Cup Venue)

Telus StreetFest (Beatty & Robson Streets)

Safeway Grey Cup Festival Parade, November 26 at 10:00 a.m.

The Scotiabank Football Experience

11/05/2011 - Eastside Culture Crawl - Celebrating Local Artists

11/04/2011 - Hopscotch Festival 2011

10/12/2011 - October Dining Events in Vancouver

Taste of Yaletown - October 19-30, 2011

Candlelight Conservation Dinner, October 27, 2011

10/08/2011 - Halloween Events Vancouver - 2011

80s Pop Icons Halloween Party - Library Square Public House

Secret Souls Walk (formerly Parade of Lost Souls)

Dooms Night - Halloween Massive - 3D Halloween Party

Halloween at the Waldorf Hotel

HELLOWEEN Haunted Mansion Party

Thrill the World Vancouver

Deadly Deductions - A Night of Killer Fun - Science World

Dunbar Haunted House

Vancouver Police Museum Haunted Halloween Tours

Fright Nights PNE/Playland

10/06/2011 - Celebrating Craft Beer Month in Vancouver

09/08/2011 - Best Sports Bars in Vancouver - Part I

09/08/2011 - Best Sports Bars in Vancouver - Part II

09/06/2011 - Hapa-Palooza - Celebrating Mixed Roots Arts and Ideas

08/30/2011 - Labour Day Long Weekend Events - 2011

08/24/2011 - Vancouver International Fringe Festival

08/21/2011 - Summer Night Concerts - PNE Fair

08/15/2011 - International Pop Overthrow (IPO)