Here is our favourite photo from those submitted to the Inside Vancouver Flickr photo pool . Keep submitting your photos – we love showcasing our city through the eyes of our readers.

Photo credit: Squirmelia | Flickr

It may seem strange to call Cloud 9 a hidden gem.  The restaurant – a giant, UFO-shaped disc – sits atop the Empire Landmark Hotel in downtown Vancouver.  It’s 42 storeys up and visible from just about everywhere in the city.

But I’ve never met anyone who’s actually been inside.

Cloud 9 is, of course, no ordinary restaurant: It’s a (drumroll, please) revolving restaurant.  As you eat, the entire dining room ever so slowly spins around.  Back when the hotel first opened in 1973, this was no doubt the kind of futuristic thing – like Space Needles and TV dinners – that was all the rage.  Vancouverites would have lined up to experience fine dining on a giant merry-go-round 400 feet above Robson Street.

With time, however, the novelty must have faded.  Today, Cloud 9 remains popular among hotel guests and visiting out-of-towners.  But for a whole generation of Vancouverites like me, it has been nearly completely forgotten.

All of which is a shame because it still has possibly the best view in all of Vancouver.  I took the Empire Landmark elevator up to the 42nd floor on a recent weekend night and was amazed.  The restaurant’s outer wall is made entirely of six-metre-tall windows opening to the kind of gorgeous city views that you rarely see – even on postcards.

Look in one direction and there’s the Lions Gate Bridge, framed by the North Shore mountains.  Look in another direction and English Bay opens up, glittering with giant container ships anchored for the night.  You can stare out to Coal Harbour and deep into Burrard Inlet or peer down into the cityscapes of Gastown and Yaletown or study the distant, glittering lights of Burnaby and Richmond.   I think it’s probably safe to say that there’s nowhere else in Vancouver where you take in this much in one gaze.

And the restaurant isn’t bad either.  I took a window seat in the lounge, which even after all these years still has a futuristic vibe – kind of a cross between the bridge of the Starship Enterprise and a nice hotel lobby.  You’ll get hit with a bit of a premium on the drinks, but it’s a small price to pay for the views.

As I sipped away, the restaurant revolved at a leisurely pace of .04 kilometres per hour – barely fast enough to be noticed.  But every so often, I’d look up to discover a brand new perspective on the city.  Even trippier is the fact that while the dining area revolves, the central core of the restaurant remains in the same fixed position.  So you may get up and discover that the washroom is in an entirely different place from where you left it (which can be hazardous after a few drinks).

All told, it takes about 80 minutes for the restaurant to complete one revolution. (For the trivia buffs: The entire revolving floor is powered by only two 1/2-horsepower motors, about the same size as the motors on a household washing machine).  It also goes without saying that Cloud 9 still makes for a great date night: Prix fixe 3-course dinners start at $32.95.

Anyone else a fan of Cloud 9′s forgotten charms? Let us know below. 

For more updates on Vancouver and beyond, follow me on Twitter @RemyScalza.

Khatsahlano! 2012

Khatsahlano! Music & Arts Festival, which takes place every summer in the beachfront Kitsilano neighbourhood, is a hotly-anticipated Vancouver summer event. Why? It’s a big free street party with live music all day.

This year, Khatsahlano! takes place Saturday, July 13. Kitsilano’s main shopping drag (West 4th Avenue between Burrard and MacDonald) will close to car traffic and 50 local bands will get on stage and do their thing. The 80,000+ spectators who camp out will be reminded of the Kitsilano of yore; in the 1960s Kitsilano was Vancouver’s hip, counterculture enclave and the go-to spot for concerts.

Khatsahlano! organizers have just announced the 2013 band line-up. If you’re into the Vancouver music scene, you’ll want to check out the well-curated list before you make summer travel plans. If you’re visiting town in July, this is a must-attend event.

Grant McDonagh, owner of Zulu Records, Kitsilano’s premier destination for music and concert tickets, has joined forces with the Waldorf Productions crew Arrival Agency and brand.LIVE to produce the musical component of the festival. And it’s going to be good.

Folks are particularly excited about hot Vancouver bands including Gold & Youth, No Sinner, Brasstronaut and The Pack A.D.  Find the full list after the jump.

The crowd at Khatsahlano! 2012

Khatsahlano Music & Arts 2013 Festival Band Line-Up

The Pack A.D. / Brasstronaut / Gold & Youth/ Rich Hope & His Blue Rich Rangers / No Sinner / Cyclist / Longwalkshortdock / Evy Jane / The Vicious Cycles / Portage & Main / The Peak Performance Project Top Twenty / Christopher Smith / Koban / Village / Johnny De Courcy / The Gay Nineties / The Bonitos / Twin River / Gal Gracen / Rococode / War Baby / Sabota James / Younger / La Chinga / Sunshine / Chapel Sound / Blind Horses / The Katy Kurdyak Band / Cowards / Lié Needs / Bre Mcdaniel / Victoria / Corban / Skye Wallace / Killing Time / Jess Cullen

On June 11, Khatsahlano! organizers will announce 20 more bands: the Top 20 finalists from the 2013 Peak Performance Project.

Khatsahlano! takes place Saturday, July 13 from 11am to 9pm on West 4th Avenue between Burrard and MacDonald, In addition to 50 bands, expect food carts. shopping and other street performances. Entry and live music are free.

The annual Drum + Light Festival returns to the Roundhouse May 24. Photo courtesy Drum + Light Festival.

Percussion, light and video combine for a multi-media event May 24 at the Roundhouse Performance Centre.

This high-energy dance event features Drum + Light Orchestra, a 14-piece groove ensemble. There’s a whole lot more, too, that makes this five-year-old annual Vancouver tradition a feast for eyes, ears and feet.

Musicians with the Drum + Light Orchestra, led by John Korsrud, include some of Vancouver’s hottest percussionists, such as the beat-keepers for the bands Soulstream and Mother Mother, as well as keyboardist Chris Gestrin, guitarist Russ Klyne and programmer Stefan Smulovitz. Mychal Heidro is producing the light show and some of Vancouver’s hottest dancers will get the party started. The Roundhouse’s Locomotive Room will be transformed into a chill room.

The annual Drum + Light Festival returns to the Roundhouse May 24. Photo courtesy Drum + Light Festival.

Hard Rubber New Music has a history of producing large-scale, multi-media events such as the award-winning Enter/Exit, a mix of original compositions and visual projections, as well as The Ice Age ice shows (2000, 2010), featuring the talents of hockey players, curlers and figure skaters. Other productions include White Hot Core, a collaboration with Kokoro Dance, and The Elvis Cantata.

Drum + Light at the Roundhouse Performance Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews). Doors 8 p.m., show 9.

Tickets: $25 General • $15 Students & Seniors • $15 Groups (5+) at brownpapertickets.com. Cash only at the door

A staple of summer and one of the funnest places to spend your nights for delicious food, great deals, and a late night out with friends. Nightlife Host Christina Meng heads to the Richmond Night Market to take in the sights, sounds, and tastes of this exciting night spot.

Richmond Night Market Opened May 17, 2013

About 24/604

24/604 is the New Vancouver Lifestyle Show that will take you on a journey to introduce you to some of the Gems of our City! From Active Activities, to Amazing Places to Eat, and the Best Spots for a Night Out, we will be your Vancouver Video Tour Guide.

For more information Like us on Facebook at fb.com/24604 and Follow us on Twitter at @24604tv

Photo credit: placbo | Flickr

Legend has it that the chicken wing, or Buffalo wing if you prefer, was conceived one winter night in 1964 in Buffalo, New York.  Until then, wings were thought of as scraps – used for stock or just thrown out.  Then Teressa Bellissimo, owner of the humble Anchor Bar, came up with the idea of deep frying the puny little things and tossing them in cayenne sauce.  A bar classic was born.

Of course, Vancouver’s no slouch either in the wings department.  Pub food aficionados know that there are hundreds of places across the city to get a decent helping, from traditional hot wings to crazy variations incorporating everything from pineapple to curry.

This month, many of those delicious wings are being put to the test as part of the inaugural Vancouver Chicken Wings Challenge.  Dozens of restaurants across Metro Vancouver are facing off to take home the title of the city’s best wings, from May 14-June 9.  And – in the democratic spirit of chicken wings – winners are picked not by professional judges but by everyday wing enthusiasts across the city like you.

Here’s how it works.

Stop into as many of the 14 participating restaurants as you can before June 9 and dig into an order of their wings.  Then log onto contest organizer Vancouver Foodster and vote for your favourites.  According to contest rules, wings should be judged on “originality, creativity, uniqueness, traditional, non-traditional, price, value and most importantly taste.”

Here are just a few of this year’s entries to whet your appetite:

Kimchi Chicken Wings: The classic Korean condiment inspires this creation at downtown’s Rogue Kitchen: Wings are glazed in a kimchi puree reduced with honey, orange and wheat ale, then served with sliced cucumber and herb salad.  $12.99, Rogue Kitchen and Wet Bar, 601 W. Cordova St.  

Confit Chicken Wings:  Downtown’s Kingston Taphouse offers an upscale take on the original: Locally sourced Fraser Valley wing confit is fried in duck fat, then tossed with orange cardamom salt and pepper and drizzled with sherry chervil creme fraiche.  $7,   Kingston Taphouse and Grille, 755 Richards St. 

Gramercy Grill’s Chicken Wings: The West Side restaurant puts a pan-Asian spin on the classic recipe: Wings are marinated in pineapple, then dusted with roasted garlic and bell pepper and served over crispy vermicelli and red curry veggies.  $12, Gramercy Grill, 2685 Arbutus St.

Grilled Harissa Drumettes: Harissa, the Tunisian hot chile sauce, makes this dish pop at Denman Street’s Sol Sun Belt.  Wings are served with mango salsa and house-made harissa and drizzled with argan oil.  $10-$14, Sol Sun Belt Cookery, 550 Denman St.  

See the full list of participating restaurants here.

Got your own favourite spot for wings?  Let us know below.  

For more updates on Vancouver and beyond, follow me on Twitter @RemyScalza.  

Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge

Did you blow your entertainment budget on a Mother’s Day gift? A new spring wardrobe? A pre-booked summer getaway? No worries. I’m sure someone deserved it. Toward the end of May, the weather starts behaving (sun, sun, sun) and the jam-packed Vancouver summer event schedule begins. The result? A multitude of free events and activities for local adventurers.

So what are you waiting for? From stunning hikes, to summer night markets and admission-by-donation gallery days, get out and experience Vancouver’s best cheap fun.

5 Free Things To Do In Vancouver Now

1) Experience the Vancouver Chinatown Night Market makeover
Vancouver’s oldest summer night market, the Vancouver Chinatown Night Market, has stepped up its game by involving new players from the growing Vancouver Chinatown community. Traditional Chinese cuisine and crafts will appear alongside Vancouver’s hottest new food trucks and the young creatives moving into the historic neighbourhood, ranging from pie makers to to purveyors of Chinese cuisine 2.0. Don’t miss a wild new program of arts and entertainment such as Mah Jong Socials, ping pong and outdoor movies. Fridays-Sundays, 6pm to 11pm May 17 through September 8, rain or shine. It’s located on Keefer Street between Main & Columbia.

2) Leg it on a great Vancouver hike
Whether you stick close to town and walk the Stanley Park Seawall or head up the fierce 2.9km ascent up Grouse Mountain, known to local masochists as the grind, it’s time to get outside.

3) Browse Vancouver farmers markets
Some of Vancouver’s farmers markets (Trout Lake, Kitsilano) are already open for the summer season. Browse local produce, meat, cheese, plants and other sundries ranging from granola to handmade soap. Chat up a producer. Get inspired for your weekly menu. Find the weekend schedules here.

4) Kick it in a world-class Vancouver park
Want to play frisbee under the blooms in Queen Elizabeth Park? Or cross the stunning (and for some, nerve-wracking) Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge on your way to a waterfall picnic spot? Whatever your yen, Vancouver parks have got you covered. Use the Vancouver Parks App to find exactly what you’re after:  vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture.aspx

5) Reward your brain at the Vancouver Art Gallery
Scope the permanent collections and new exhibits  (we love Grand Hotel) at Vancouver Art Gallery–the largest art gallery in western Canada on Tuesday nights by donation, from 5pm – 9pm.

BONUS: Rock the Vancouver Jimi Hendrix Shrine
The free Jimi Hendrix Shrine opens in June. But you can start doing your research on Hogan Alley, once home to Vancouver’s African-American population including Jimi’s grandmother, Nora Hendrix, now. The shrine used to be part of Vie’s Chicken and Steak House, the destination for soul food and fantastic shows including performances by Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole. Today, the shrine features old pictures and memorabilia of Jimi Hendrix and family as well as of the neighborhood. Here’s a short documentary to get you excited. You can easily reach it on foot from Gastown. Opening hours and map here.

Want more updates on Vancouver fun? Follow me on Twitter @TJerven

A Finnish Bhangra band called Shava photo credit: HSBC City of Bhangra/VIBC

One of Vancouver’s telltale signs of spring is back. The 9th annual HSBC City of Bhangra Festival runs from May 30 – June 8. Punctuated by colour and rhythm the festival attracts bhangra groups from as far as Brazil, India and Finland to our fair city.  

“We’re trying to feature new acts like young Canadian singer Inder Kooner. By supporting acts like Inder, the Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration Society builds community for everyone through the celebration of bhangra,” says Sukhi Ghuman, a member of the festival organizing committee.

“We really want all cultures and communities to feel welcome at the festival.”

Originating about 500 years ago, Bhangra was invented by wheat farmers in India’s Punjab province. Toiling in the hot, golden fields Punjabi farmers would dance and sing about village life to fight the monotony of working all day during harvest season.

In the last 40 years or so Bhangra has surged in popularity, attracting fans in the global south and north, becoming the dance brand of India.

Starting in 2005, the HSBC City of Bhangra was so successful it now includes events in both Vancouver and Surrey.

Photo credit: VIBC/HSBC City of Bhangra

 “During this year’s festival, there will be over 20 hours of free programming to enjoy. We’re expecting about 10,000 people to attend the different events throughout the 10 days. There are about 200 performers,” explains Guhman who used to be part of the UBC bhangra team.

Vancouver highlights for the 2013 HSBC City of Bhangra include:

rePercussion -  a drum-filled reception featuring the percussion talents of artists from Zimbabwe, Cuba, the UK and Surrey’s Dhol Nation Academy. rePercussion kicks the festival off at the Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre May 30 from 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.

Lunchtime Bhangra – the downtown lunch crowd can take a dance break and observe dance shows on Robson between Howe and Hornby Streets June 3 from noon – 1:00 p.m.

Downtown Bhangra – (my personal favourite) gather after work on Friday June 7 for an evening of bhangra moves like the Jhummer and Chutki Lehria. Dance troupes and musical performances go from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. on the West Georgia side of the Vancouver Art Gallery between Hornby and Howe Streets. 

Non-stop Bhangra – after the outdoor performances June 7 put on your dance pants to catch Dj Harpz, Dj Anjali and The Incredible Kid at the Vancouver FanClub from 10:00 p.m. until late.

For a full list of HSBC City of Bhangra events visit here.

Who is your favourite local bhangra dance team? Let us know in the comments section below.

Portuguese Joe Silvey on his wedding day

Harry Jerome is about to get some company.

The statue of the famous Canadian runner, which stands at Brockton Point in Stanley Park, will soon be joined by a statue of a very different Canadian icon, a 19th-century whaler named Portuguese Joe Silvey.

Silvey, a little known but colourful figure from B.C.’s past, opened a saloon opposite Gassy Jack Deighton’s in the late 1800s in what is now Gastown. He earned a reputation as a cultural bridgemaker, marrying into the local Coast Salish First Nations community and having 11 children with two wives, according to a great article in the Vancouver Sun.

The new sculpture, which has just received park board approval and will be unveiled in late September, will rise at the site where Silvey once lived with his family in Stanley Park.  In a fitting twist, the statue is being carved by Silvey’s great grandson, native artist Luke Marston.  It stands 14-feet tall and features Portuguese Joe, along with his first and second wives and a host of symbols representing stages in his eventful life, from giant grey whales to grapevines imported from Portugal.

Silvey emigrated from Portugal’s Azores archipelago at age 12, determined to make his fortunes in whaling, according to the biography The Remarkable Adventures of Portuguese Joe Silvey by historian Jean Barman.  Travels took him to the Lower Mainland, where he opened his saloon called Hole in the Wall.

Silvey later moved his family to Reid Island, one of the southern Gulf Islands, where he became a fisherman, hauling in mud sharks whose oil was used to light lanterns used by early miners.

The statue, which is being carved in cedar now and will ultimately be cast in bronze, is paid for by donations from the Portuguese community and provincial and federal grant programs.  Marston, its creator, has already earned renown for his 14-foot-high Healing Pole outside of Government House In Victoria, and his Medicine Box, a bentwood box representing First Nations residential school survivors.

For more updates on Vancouver and beyond, follow me on Twitter @RemyScalza. 

It’s a classic Vancouver traveler’s dilemma: You’ve just got to experience the iconic Capilano Suspension Bridge, 460 feet of knee-quaking adventure. And you’ve just got to see Stanley Park, the 1,000-acre oceanside forest in the heart of the city. And you’ve just got to check out the inspired Emily Carr canvasses inside the Vancouver Art Gallery. And that doesn’t even put a dent in your Vancouver bucket list.

Fortunately, doing it all just got a little easier. Travelers to Vancouver who make a hotel reservation before June 30 (for a stay anytime before the end of the year) get deep discounts on the city’s top attractions.

Book this special offer, available only on tourismvancouver.com, and receive 25 percent off of a choice of one of 10 attractions, 30 percent off of two attractions and 35 percent off of three attractions.

Options include some of Vancouver’s signature experiences:

• Brave the Capilano Suspension Bridge, swaying 230-feet above a raging river.
• Explore the best of Stanley Park in a historic, horse-drawn carriage.
• Take to the seas on a luxury dinner or lunch onboard Harbour Cruises.
• Get a new perspective on the city from the 551-foot-high Vancouver Lookout.
• See Canadian and international masterpieces at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
• Wander a traditional Chinese scholar’s garden at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
• Experience live science demos and OMNIMAX at Telus World of Science.
• Step back to simpler times at the 1920s-inspired Burnaby Village Museum.
• Cross the treacherous Fraser River in a Hell’s Gate Airtram.
• Admire one of the world’s finest botanical gardens at Minter Gardens.