The sun is shinning, the beaches are packed, and May Long Weekend is already here! Summer is just around the corner now and here’s what you can get up to around Metro Vancouver this weekend including a few events on the Victoria Day holiday.

Things to do in Vancouver May Long Weekend

Friday, May 18, 2018
Top Drop Vancouver
Dotting Mandala Canvas Painting
Shipyards Night Market
Richmond Night Market
lolanthe
130th Annual Country Fair
Eastside Flea Spring Markets
ITSAZOO Presents WET
The Arts Club Presents: Mamma Mia!
Crafted Vancouver
Pacific Theatre Presents: Tolkien by Ron Reed
First Impressions Theatre Presents: Shirley Valentine

Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir presents Jazz Meets Gospel on June 2nd at Christ Church Cathedral in Downtown Vancouver. This final concert of the 2017/2018 season explores the intersection of two historic genres. Audiences will be brought to their feet, as the high-octane ensemble are joined by free-wheeling instrumentalist Daniel Lapp and the dulcet-yet-mighty voices of Holy Cross High School’s ViBE Senior Choir.

Leigh Righton Photo

Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir Jazz Meets Gospel

When: June 2, 2018 at 3:00pm & 8:00pm
Where: Christ Church Cathedral (690 Burrard St, Vancouver)
Tickets: Adults $25, students/seniors $25, children 12 & under $10. Available online now or by calling 1-800-838-3006

Jazz Meets Gospel’s full program includes the high-energy song Revelation by the Yellowjackets, before hitting more soulful notes with Walk With Me Lord and When the Saints Go Marching In (both in new arrangements by Suderman herself). Also of note is the 60’s civil rights anthem I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to Be Free, performed by Good Noise soloist Syllona Kanu in tribute to Nina Simone.

Guest artist Lapp is a trumpet player, singer, composer, producer, and teacher — as well as the Artistic Director of the Chwyl Family School of Contemporary Music at Victoria Conservatory of Music and Director of the BC Fiddle Orchestra. Lapp was one of six fiddlers featured in the 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremonies in Vancouver, and has appeared as a soloist with the CBC Orchestra and Vancouver Symphony.

The ViBE Senior Choir received top recognition for two consecutive years at the Kiwanis Fraser Valley International Music Festival Awards in 2016 and 2017. Comprised of 55 students between the ages of 15 to 18, the choir is a dedicated group committed to twice-weekly practices. A portion of the proceeds from Jazz Meets Gospel will go towards ViBE and Good Noise’s VIP Young Artist Program, which supports high school students in music education programs.

Accompanying Good Noise, Lapp, and ViBE will be a superb band: Michael Kalanj (Hammond B3), Laurence Mollerup (bass), Elliot Polsky (drums), Ingrid Stitt (alto and soprano saxophones), and Artistic Director Gail Suderman (piano and vocals).

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to the 8:00pm performance, here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

Follow Good Noise on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more info.

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, May 21, 2018.

Contributed by Stephen Hui

In “Raincouver,” April showers don’t always bring May flowers. However, wet weather represents a golden opportunity to find solitude in the rainforests around Vancouver. Why not don waterproof-breathable gear and ever-so-fashionable gaiters, pack the 10 essentials, leave a trip plan with a reliable person, and get outside?

Here are 5 rainy day picks from my new guidebook, 105 Hikes in and around Southwestern British Columbia, published by Greystone Books.

Top 5 Rainy Day Hikes Near Vancouver

Please respect the backcountry by practicing Leave No Trace techniques

1. Gold Creek

Gold Creek bridge on the East-West Canyon Connector. Photo by Stephen Hui.

A bridge over Gold Creek makes possible an attractive loop at Golden Ears Provincial Park in Katzie First Nation territory. This outing includes visits to the scenic backcountry campsites at Viewpoint Beach and Alder Flats.

The East Canyon Trail starts at the Gold Creek parking lot. Stay with the old logging road as it descends to Gold Creek and intersects the East-West Canyon Connector. Before crossing the Gold Creek footbridge, continue upstream to Viewpoint Beach.

Back at the bridge, go west on the East-West Canyon Connector. Turn right on the watery, rooty (and snowy in spring) West Canyon Trail. Turn around at Alder Flats, and stick with the West Canyon Trail. Turn left on the Menzies Trail and cross the bridge on the Golden Ears Parkway to return to the parking lot.

Round trip: 14km, 4.5 hours. Elevation gain: 340m. Access: Dewdney Trunk Road and 232 Street, Maple Ridge.

Vancouver Heritage Foundation is opening character and heritage homes across Vancouver for the 16th annual Vancouver Heritage House Tour on June 3rd. This curated, self-guided tour includes a look inside 9 homes from West Point Grey to Grandview.

Vancouver Heritage House Tour

Where: North of 16th Ave, various locations in Vancouver
When: Sunday, June 3, 2018 from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Tickets: Tickets: $40 or $30 with valid student ID (not including taxes and postage). Purchase online or call (604) 264-9642.

Martin Knowles Photo/Media

Some very prestigious addresses will be open this year including the former home of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell and a luxurious apartment building that has been home to the city’s business elite, creative minds and architecture lovers for 105 years.

Lovers of Vancouver’s famed “Hobbit House” will also be excited to explore inside a charming Tudor Revival cottage built for a French Baron by the same contractor. There will also be a chance to enjoy the exquisite architecture of Aberthau and its renowned Oak Room, and the Old Hastings Mill Museum Store will open special hours just for tour day.

The tour will also have something for vintage automobile aficionados with several classic cars on display throughout the day. Learn about the 1910 REO Model R Touring Car, previously owned by Vancouver Mayor Philip Owen as well as a 1927 Auburn that spent its days chauffeuring a not-too-distant neighbour of one of the tour homes. The vehicles will be available specific hours throughout the tour, at certain tour homes.

Follow the Vancouver Heritage Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information.

The sun is out, the beach is hot, and the cool canopy of the forest paths have inspired the latest craft beer creation from Stanley Park Brewing.

The new Stanley Park Brewing Trail Hopper IPA (6.8% ABV, 65 IBU) is a bold beer with notes of tropical fruit, pine and citrus and a satisfying bitter finish. They dry hop this beer with Citra and Simcoe hops to provide a distinctive west coast flavour and balance it with a smooth malt profile to create an adventurous but approachable West Coast IPA.

Stanley Park Brewing says that this beer is all about taking a new path. Think of it as an excuse to let your taste bud wander. For the foodies out there, they suggest pairing the IPA with a dish that has a bit of a kick.

Win a Stanley Park Brewing Prize Pack

If you’d like to try it for yourself, I have a fun summer prize pack to give away that includes: A 6 pack of the Trail Hopper IPA, a TenTree Backpack, Stanley Park Brewing hat, Stanley Park Brewing t-shirt, a bocce ball set, sunglass strap and bottle opener.

Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Like, share or comment on this post on Facebook (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

Follow Stanley Park Brewing on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more info.

Please enjoy responsibly. Must be 19+. I will draw one winner at random from all entries on Wednesday, May 23, 2018.

The most anticipated craft beer and cider festival in Western Canada returns to the PNE Fairgrounds June 2 & 3, 2018, for a full weekend of live music, food, art, craft beer and cider, games and good times. The 9th annual Vancouver Craft Beer Week Festival (“VCBW”) caps off a 10-day citywide celebration of craft beer culture and community, running May 25 to June 3.

Photo credit: Christine McAvoy

Vancouver Craft Beer Week Festival

Where: PNE Fairgrounds, Vancouver
When: Saturday, June 2nd 2:00pm to 7:00pm & Sunday, June 3rd 12:00pm to 5:00pm
Tickets: Single day, weekend passes and VIP tickets available now starting at $39

Festival highlights include:

• 100 + breweries and cideries pouring more than 300 beers and ciders
• Festivalgoers can create a list of must-try breweries and favourite standout beers in advance through the VCBW website
• More food trucks
• BC Ale Trail-er pouring 8 or more craft breweries from the furthest reaches of BC’s Ale Trail
• Craft Beer Market lounge and games area
• BC Farm Crafted Cider Association’s cider row featuring 10 cideries pouring 16 different ciders
• United States Brewers Association has chosen the VCBW as their exclusive Canadian festival partner three years in a row. They are crossing the border to pour 30+ beers, many of which have never been poured in Canada
• Live interactive painting with Vancouver Mural Festival
• Floral leis and crown-making from the Leis de Buds solar powered flower bus
• Dedicated Evo valet parking
• Live music lineup includes DJ Hebegebe, Dakota Pearl, the Prettys, Youngblood, Mark Woodyard & Friends, the Great Speckled Fritillary, the Spillionaires, Tanglers and GI Blunt

Citywide VCBW Events

VCBW 2018 Kickoff: East Van Crusher
Where: Maritime Labour Centre (1880 Triumph St, Vancouver)
When: Friday, May 25, 2018 from 7:00pm to 11:00pm
Tickets: $25 (includes entry and two beers) available online now »

Kicking off VCBW at the Maritime Labour Centre is the East Van Crusher. This unorthodox opening night celebration features an incredible array of canned beer including the official VCBW 2018 Collaboration Beer, the infamous Grant Lawrence opening the 10-day celebration with the cracking of the first can, live music from Alex Maher and Hebegebe, and the glory of one of VCBW’s most revered events: Feats of Strength hosted by Copper & Theory. Watch in amazement as brewers, cellarmen and women, barkeeps and hopefuls compete in ridiculous events designed to measure one’s strength, but mostly to entertain.

In addition to a few favourite annual events, Vancouver Craft Beer Week has brewed up a fresh batch of festivities and happenings from May 25 to June 3, 2018.

Highlights include:

• Forbidden Fruit presented by The Devil’s Elbow featuring fruity and sour beers from 22 BC craft breweries
• The Growler’s 12@12 Tap Takeover at 12 Kings Pub celebrating the new issue of The Growler and the release of the latest beer in its BC Brewer Collaboration Series plus 12 specially selected beers
• The Guitar Cabaret with host Paul Pigat and special guest, Steve Pineo presented by The Anza Club along with Driftwood Brewery
• East Van Comes to the West End Tap Takeover at Timber
• New Kids on The Rock Tap Takeover at St. Augustine’s
• Vancouver Brewery Tour’s Gastown Pub Walk
• Craft Beer Market’s Brewmaster Dinner featuring the breweries of Port Moody’s Brewers Row
• Plus many more events and promotions happening in and around the city

A complete list of VCBW citywide events is available online here. Check back often as this list is continuously updated. Follow VCBW on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well as the tags #VCBW2018 #VCBW.

Bard on the Beach announces the return of its annual Young Shakespeareans Summer Theatre Camps and Teen Workshops, with sessions beginning July 3rd and running through to August 31, 2018.

Registration is now open for the programs, which allow children and teens from ages 8 to 18 to receive coaching by professional actors from Bard on the Beach, and perform some of Shakespeare’s most beloved works on the iconic stage under the white tents in Vanier Park. One of the theatre company’s key education initiatives for more than two decades, this season Young Shakespeareans will grow and expand to include full-day options that take participants beyond the world of performance and into production.

Photo by Joe Biegel

Young Shakespeareans Summer Theatre Camps and Teen Workshops

Dates: July 3 to August 31, 2018
Venue: Bard on the Beach in Vanier Park

Participation costs range from $370.00 to $490.00 for two-week, half-day programs and one-week, full-day programs; and $800.00 for two-week, full-day programs. All programs have additional options available for early drop-off and late pick-up. A Bard Education Bursary Fund is also available for individuals who may require assistance overcoming financial barriers to participation.

About Young Shakespeareans Summer Theatre Camps

The full scope of the Young Shakespeareans Summer Camps and Workshops consists of 16 distinct sessions, most of which are half-day sessions running for two weeks. Each workshop caters to a specific age group (8 to 13 or 13 to 18 year olds) and is centred around one of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays (among 2018 options are Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and more). Two intensive workshops are offered for full-day sessions for a single week, for 11-14 and 15-18 year olds.

Over the course of the workshop, professional actors from Bard’s company will help participants bring Shakespeare’s words to life through coaching in voice, movement and dialogue, and with activities designed to boost confidence and foster collaborative relationships. Each session culminates with the opportunity for the young thespians to share their work on Bard on the Beach’s Vanier Park stages.

New for 2018, the traditional two-week, half-day program will expand to include full-day options. Following a morning of learning and rehearsing, participants can choose to stay for the afternoons, going ‘behind-the-scenes’ to learn about the broader workings of a theatre production. These special activities will include explorations of prop and wardrobes, tours of technical facilities, and special visits and activities with guest Festival staff.

Young Shakespeareans is the flagship program of Bard Education, an arm of the theatre organization dedicated to inspiring the Lower Mainland community through dynamic, engaging experiences with the language, characters, and plays of William Shakespeare.

In addition to the summer programming, its year-round operations include performance workshops for adult Shakespeare enthusiasts; community partnerships that bring free programming to disadvantaged neighbourhoods; paid post-secondary internships; classroom programming; teacher training; and more.

Win Your Way In

Win a spot in the Young Shakespeareans Summer Theatre Camps for the young actor in your life! I’m giving away the following, thanks to Bard on the Beach:

• One spot in the Young Shakespeareans Camp: Shakespeare Shakeup
  (Valued at $490)
• Aug 13-17, 2018 9:30am to 5:00pm for 11-14 yr olds
• A one week, full-day intensive that explores the favourite scenes and speeches in the plays.
• Registration in the camps includes 2 complimentary tickets to a predetermined, mainstage performance. For this camp it will be August 18th performance of As You Like It.

Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Like, comment on, or share this post on Facebook (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, May 22, 2018.

Follow Bard on the Beach on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.