Inside Vancouver

Satire, memoir, and afternoon tea—five events to check out at this year’s Vancouver Writers Festival

by Shawn Conner in Events on October 4, 2017

Tom Perrotta. Ben King photo courtesy HBO.

The 30th Annual Vancouver Writers Festival (Oct. 16-22) is less than two weeks away, and some events are already sold out.

Fortunately, there are still plenty of events left that still have tickets available. Here are five we think are worth checking out, including a discussion about satire, another about what it’s like to be strangers in a strange (and getting stranger by the minute) land, and a chat about the art of memoir. (Note: most Vancouver Writers Festival events take place on Granville Island.)

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Satire, memoir, and afternoon tea—five events to check out at this year’s Vancouver Writers Festival

Watch Romeo and Juliet Fall in Love on Vancouver’s Granville Island

by Tara Lee in Uncategorized on August 3, 2017

Pictured: Company of Romeo & Juliet; Photo by Emily Jane King (sourced from CTYP Facebook page)

Prepare to be swept away with romance and cry tragic tears on Vancouver’s iconic Granville Island. One of my favourite summertime destinations in the city is playing host to Carousel Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s beloved Romeo and Juliet.

It’s outdoors, it’s wonderfully dramatic, and, best of all, it’s free!

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Watch Romeo and Juliet Fall in Love on Vancouver’s Granville Island

Granville Island’s Green Spaces

by Jane Weiss in Uncategorized on August 1, 2017

Green space and marina views Photo: Rob Weiss

What comes to mind when you think of Granville Island? Vibrant art spaces, fantastic live music, the famous and always popular Public Market featuring a wide array of bakeries, butchers and colourful produce or perhaps the tremendous assortment of restaurants, pubs and bars catering to the foodie in all us? It sounds cliché, but Granville Island has something for everyone! I can easily spend a day soaking up the colours, aromas and atmosphere of this magical place “under the bridge.”

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Granville Island’s Green Spaces

Crazy (in a good way) sexy (sort of) cool (maybe)—what’s coming to this year’s Vancouver Fringe Festival

by Shawn Conner in Uncategorized on July 28, 2017

Beavers are funny. People pretending to be beavers is even funnier. Hence, Beaver Dreams, coming to this year’s Vancouver Fringe Festival.

How do you choose? That, along with, Is there parking?, is among the chief concerns accompanying the announcement of each new Fringe Festival. This year, the Vancouver Fringe Festival (Sept. 7-17) presents 100 different productions at various locations (mostly on Granville Island and in East Vancouver), and they range from one-person monologues about Trump to full-cast musical comedies about Trump. (Just kidding. Only a few of this year’s entries cover the current sitting president.)

So, to help the Fringe-goer decide, we’ve gone through the just-published schedule and broken down some of the selections into four categories: Sure Things; Intriguing. But…; Sexy… (Or Maybe Just About Sex in That Really Uncomfortable Fringe Way); and WTF.

This list is by no means meant to be comprehensive, and only includes about a quarter of the shows. (We also haven’t included any of the ancillary entertainment, from live music to Fringe-related shows before and after; perhaps in a future post. For a complete schedule, visit vancouverfringe.com.) But hopefully this guide will help to start you planning your Fringe-going.

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Crazy (in a good way) sexy (sort of) cool (maybe)—what’s coming to this year’s Vancouver Fringe Festival

Kids In Vancouver: 4 Playground-Adjacent Coffee Shop Patios

by Bianca Bujan in Uncategorized on June 21, 2017

Blenz Coffee | Photo: Blenz Coffee (Instagram)

When you’re a parent, nothing pairs better with rambunctious children than a caffeine-forward cuppa joe and a great outdoor space to let your kids run free. Fortunately, Vancouver is filled with coffee shop patios that are situated only steps away from the city’s best parks and playgrounds, so parents can relax while their kids get their wiggles out.

Here are 4 places to grab a coffee that are adjacent to playgrounds – perfect for parents who want to caffeinate and chill while their children play outside.

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Kids In Vancouver: 4 Playground-Adjacent Coffee Shop Patios

Kids In Vancouver: 5 Kid-Friendly Patios For Sun-Loving Parents

by Bianca Bujan in Uncategorized on May 30, 2017

Tap & Barrel, Olympic Village | Photo: Bianca Bujan

There’s no better way to welcome the warmer weather than to spend an afternoon on a sun-drenched patio, sipping on ice cold drinks and taking in the colourful scenery while chatting with friends.

While many of Vancouver’s patios may be more suited for an adult audience, there are plenty of picture-perfect spots that welcome families too. Here are just 5 of the best kid-friendly patios that can be found in and around the city.

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Kids In Vancouver: 5 Kid-Friendly Patios For Sun-Loving Parents

Kids In Vancouver: Celebrate 40 Years Of The Vancouver International Children’s Festival!

by Bianca Bujan in Uncategorized on May 16, 2017

Growing up, the Vancouver International Children’s Festival was a childhood highlight. I can still remember dancing to the music of Canada’s top children’s entertainers, such as Fred Penner and Charlotte Diamond. I can remember having my face painted in a rainbow of colours, and I can remember watching the on-stage performances in awe. I remember running around from station to station, trying out the hands-on arts and crafts, and laughing at the street performances that passed me by. Now that I’m a parent, I look forward to returning to my childhood-favourite event with my own kids, oozing with nostalgia as I watch my children enjoy the same experiences as I did when I was their age.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the city’s kid-focused affair, and it promises to bring even more music, magic, and amusement than ever before! Here are just some of the features you can expect from this year’s Kids Fest, coming to Granville Island from May 29th – June 4th.

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Kids In Vancouver: Celebrate 40 Years Of The Vancouver International Children’s Festival!