Biggest Lego Exhibition in Vancouver History is Coming, April 23-24

Photo credit: Alan Chia | Wikipedia

Photo credit: Alan Chia | Wikipedia

Lego mania is coming to Metro Vancouver.

The biggest Lego show in B.C. history is slated for April 23-April 24 at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond. More than 5,500 adult Lego lovers from around the region and the world are expected to converge for two full days of fun and excitement with the tiny, brightly coloured plastic blocks. In fact, the event is already officially sold-out.

The public exhibition consists of a giant display hall where some of North America’s most skilled Lego builders will be setting up their creations. Expect some mind-boggling constructions that go way beyond your typical Lego forts and castles. Structures can range from full-size Lego cars to fierce-looking animals, stadiums and archaeological sites, lifelike pastries and edibles, realistic human sculptures and more.

In addition, there’s a “creation station” where guests can do some building of their own, as well as a “vendor alley” where all kinds of Lego merchandise and accessories – including rare and custom sets – will be on sale.   Continue reading:
Biggest Lego Exhibition in Vancouver History is Coming, April 23-24

40,000+ Runners Expected to Pack Downtown for the 2016 Vancouver Sun Run

Photo credit: BigA888 | Flickr

Photo credit: BigA888 | Flickr

It started in 1985 with 3,200 runners trotting through the streets of downtown Vancouver.

Fast-forward to the present and the Vancouver Sun Run is the biggest 10K road race in Canada, with more than 40,000 participants running one of the prettiest courses anywhere in the world. And this year, the race is shaping up to be more memorable than ever.

Tens of thousands of runners and spectators are expected to pack the downtown core this Sunday, April 17, for the 32nd instalment of the Vancouver Sun Run. A seasonal rite of passage for Vancouverites, the festive run brings out everyone from world-class athletes to office mates who have been training for weeks and moms and dads pushing strollers.  Continue reading:
40,000+ Runners Expected to Pack Downtown for the 2016 Vancouver Sun Run

The craft fair with a club vibe: Make It Vancouver is Back, April 22

Image from Marie's Guilt Free Bakery, one of the exhibitors at Make It.

Image from Marie’s Guilt Free Bakery, one of the exhibitors at Make It.

A craft fair in April?

Yup. And not just any craft fair – the indisputably hippest, greenest, most artisanal, funkiest craft fair ever to hit Metro Vancouver.

Make It Vancouver returns for its spring instalment, April 22-April 24, at the PNE Forum. By now a local fixture, Make It is one part craft fair and one part party, with an eco-friendly, proudly Canadian vibe that permeates everything. It may be the one place in Vancouver where you can browse for handmade stationary, one-off baby clothes and organic skin care products while scarfing down street food, sipping on craft beer and grooving along to a club mix.  Continue reading:
The craft fair with a club vibe: Make It Vancouver is Back, April 22

Eat Dinner Inside the Homes of Vancouver Foodies: DinnerPartyYVR returns, April 9

Part of A Culinary Visit to Persia | Image sourced from DinnerPartyYVR.com

Part of A Culinary Visit to Persia | Image sourced from DinnerPartyYVR.com

Vancouver is a foodie city. But locals know that some of the best meals are served around dinner tables at home, not in restaurants.

Now, diners have a chance to sample those down-home creations as part of DinnerPartyYVR: a unique event that sees “hobby chefs” open up their home to strangers, all for a good cause.

The event returns for its fourth year, this Saturday, April 9. According to the CBC, more than 500 hobby chefs across Vancouver will be hosting thousands of happy eaters inside their own homes.  The minimum $50 donation includes a home-cooked feast and a glass of beer or wine, and proceeds go to charities. The meals are intimate affairs, generally with seating for four to ten people.  Continue reading:
Eat Dinner Inside the Homes of Vancouver Foodies: DinnerPartyYVR returns, April 9

Uber Looking for Drivers in Vancouver (But Don’t Pick Up Any Passengers Yet!)

IMG_2115Have a car and want to make a few extra bucks?

Uber, the ride-for-hire company that’s challenged the traditional taxi industry, has begun posting ads for Vancouver drivers on its website and on the job site Workopolis. “Driving with Uber is a great way to earn cash on your schedule. The more drive, the more you can earn,” the ads boast.

But don’t expect to be pocketing any extra cash anytime soon. Uber still isn’t permitted to operate in Vancouver or British Columbia. The ads are part of a push to gauge interest among drivers and also publicize the benefits of the Uber platform.

Drivers must be at least 21, have a four-door vehicle and a valid driver’s license and insurance. Uber claims that drivers can earn up to $39.60 an hour, after the company takes its 25-percent cut on all fares.

At the same time, Uber has also opened up a “sneak preview” feature for Vancouverites looking for a ride. Users who have downloaded the app can log in and get a mock-up of Uber drivers in their immediate vicinity, with an estimate of wait times. Continue reading:
Uber Looking for Drivers in Vancouver (But Don’t Pick Up Any Passengers Yet!)

Got Trees? Get $10 Cherry Trees, Magnolias and More at Vancouver Tree Week, April 2-10

Photo credit: Canuckdon |Wikipedia

Photo credit: Canuckdon |Wikipedia

Feeling a little tree envy? During the spring, Vancouver streets and yards are filled with blossoming beauties: cherry and plum trees, magnolias and lilacs and more.

Now, a unique offering from the Vancouver Park Board is allowing Vancouver residents to take some of those gorgeous hardwoods home with them, for a bargain price.  As part of Vancouver Tree Week, April 2-April 10, residents can purchase some 22 varieties of trees from the city park board for the bargain price of $10 each. Considering that many of these trees normally sell for $75 or up, that’s a deep discount.

It’s all part of an effort to restore the city’s dwindling tree canopy. Over the last 20 years, the amount of city land covered by canopy has dropped from 22 percent to 18 percent, according to the Vancouver Sun.  For a metropolis aiming to be the “world’s greenest city” by 2020, that’s a disturbing trend. One of the primary culprits: the loss of trees on private property.  Continue reading:
Got Trees? Get $10 Cherry Trees, Magnolias and More at Vancouver Tree Week, April 2-10

Commercial Drive Bike Lane Plan Attracts Mixed Reviews in Vancouver

A cyclist along a downtown Vancouver bike lane. Photo credit: Paul Krueger | Flickr

A cyclist along a downtown Vancouver bike lane. Photo credit: Paul Krueger | Flickr

Will a new bike lane be good for Vancouver’s Commercial Drive? Well, that depends whom you ask.

Late last year, the city proposed a dedicated bike lane along the busy East Vancouver strip, part of a larger plan to add a dozen new bike lanes to the city over the next five years. Behind the push: a dramatic increase in the number of bike trips across Vancouver, which jumped by 16 percent last year alone.

A newly released study, however, suggests that a Commercial Drive bike lane is not without controversy.  84 percent of business and property owners surveyed do not support a separated bike lane on the Drive, according to the Commercial Drive Business Society. And 85 percent are concerned about losing parking on the street to make way for bike access.  Continue reading:
Commercial Drive Bike Lane Plan Attracts Mixed Reviews in Vancouver