A veil of smoke from forest fires across the province has covered Vancouver this morning, blocking out the sun and painting the sky orange and grey. There are dozens of fires in BC, with 17 major fires of note. Smoke is flowing out from inland origins but also from the west, from Sechelt and Port Hardy fires. Across the province, 180 fires in total are currently burning.
This timelapse by François Péladeau shows the sun disappearing, barely revealing itself at sunrise:
I walked around the Coal Harbour Sea Wall at around 8:00am and took a few photos with my phone to capture the eerily dark morning:
Fire information officers say 134 of the 180 fires have been started by lightning strikes, which is unusually high for this time of year. [Source: CBC]
This July, friends all over BC are heading to their local farmers market to celebrate Meet My Market Month. With a chance to win a three night getaway — with wine touring — to the Okanagan’s beautiful Sparkling Hill Resort, it’s clear this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship with your local BC farmers market!
Meet My Market Month at BC Farmers Markets
Introduce a friend to your favourite farmers market in July and you could win big!
Here are five great reasons to bring a friend to your local BC farmers’ market for Meet My Market Month:
- The eats. BC boasts an amazing array of locally grown food, and it’s all at the market. Whether you’re looking for a sweet fix of blueberries, local gelato, tender cuts of meat, or home grown tomatoes, the farmers’ market is a great place for fresh, quality local food.
- Meet your maker, along with your market. Surprise: the farmers’ market is run by… actual farmers! “Farmers’ markets are pretty much a second home for me,” says Rachelle Zelaney, farmer and owner of Zelaney Farms in Vernon, BC. “My family has been growing food for the Vernon community and selling at our local markets for more than 25 years. We’re very excited to meet some new faces at our booth during Meet My Market Month in July!”
- The price. People who regularly load up on local food at the farmers’ markets know the farmers’ market is an affordable (and wonderful) way to buy local…without making your savings go south.
- Making memories: BC’s farmers’ markets are the perfect place to bond with someone special. Enjoy the festive atmosphere (there’s often live music), sample different foods and consider the market a sight-seeing activity in your own backyard.
- Easy access. Across the province, more than 125 farmers’ markets offer an abundance of locally grown food and locally made goods. They foster community fun including musical entertainment, children’s activities, cooking classes, artisan workshops and a gathering place for neighbourhoods.
During Meet My Market Month you could win a resort getaway just for taking a friend along on your next market visit.
Here’s how it works: Meet My Market Month kicks off on July 1 and runs until July 31, 2015. Throughout the month, anyone in BC can participate by bringing a friend to their local market. People can enter the grand prize giveaway in one of two ways:
- In person: bring a friend to your favourite BC farmers’ market, head to the market info booth and fill out a ballot! Check out participating markets on the website.
- Via social media: simply snap a photo at your favourite BC farmers’ market with your purchase and post it on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook, tagging @bcfarmersmarket and add #MeetMyMarket to enter.
All entries will be automatically entered to win one of two grand prizes: A three-night getaway (+ wine touring) for two to Sparkling Hill Resort in the Okanagan. Social media entrants will also be eligible to win one of five weekly random prize draws for $50 to spend at the farmers’ market of their choice.
Miss604 Giveaway
In case this awesome prize isn’t enough incentive to bring a friend to a farmers market in July, I have a giveaway just for Miss604 readers for a Home Canning Starter Kit. Simply help me promote the #MeetMyMarket campaign on Twitter and you’ll be entered to win:
Be sure to use the link provided in the Twitter text above (copy/paste/post) and you’ll be entered to win one of the canning kits. I’ll draw two winners at 12:00pm on Monday, July 13, 2015.
Update The winners are @janmeehan and @LeeAnneEkland!
Cool off and enjoy a late night movie at the Rio Theatre this month with East Van’s best buttery popcorn, a margarita or beer. Tickets for the late night series are available online in advance or at the door for just $8 or $6 if you come in costume for the midnight shows.
Friday, July 3, 2015
Mad Max 3: Beyond Thunderdome
(George Miller, 1985) A former Australian policeman (Mel Gibson) is rescued by a tribe of children when he is banished from a desert town and sent into the desert to die by the desert town’s evil queen (Tina Turner).
Friday, July 10, 2015
Galaxy Quest (Dean Parisot, 1999)
Thanks to hilarious dialogue and stand-out performances from its all-star cast – including Alan Rickman, Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell, Enrico Colanltoni, Justin Long, and Missi Pyle – sci-fi parody Galaxy Quest has officially taken on a life of its own as an out-of-this-world cult-comedy. Kitschy, campy, and fun, Galaxy Quest is a total send-up of both Hollywood and the enterprise of science fiction franchises.
Friday, July 17, 2015
The Outsiders (Francis Ford Coppola, 1983)
The Outsiders is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by S.E. Hinton (who also wrote the screenplay). Besides being considered one of the best “teen dramas” ever made, the film is especially notable for its remarkable ensemble cast – including C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, Diane Lane, Leif Garrett and Tom Waits.
Friday, July 24, 2015
Kung Fury (David Sandberg, 2015) and Manborg (Steven Kostanski, 2011)
Together as a Friday Late Night Movie event: Both of these indie short films have won legions of fans (and racked up crazy viral love) for their imagination and technical ingenuity, so we thought it was a good idea to pair them together for some big screen time. This will be a seriously fun Friday Late Night you do not want to miss.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (Mike Judge, 1996)
Following the enormous success of MTV’s animated series Beavis and Butt-Head, director Mike Judge (who created the series and provided many of the voices, including those of our two slacker heroes) made a feature length film that follows the dimwitted teens on a road trip across America as they search of their stolen television set. Featuring the voices of Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, Cloris Leachman, Robert Stack, Eric Bogosian, David Spade, David Letterman, and Greg Kinnear.
Miss604 is a media partner of the Rio’s Late Night Movie series.
These 19+ screenings can be complimented with a beverage from the theatre’s full service bar as you enjoy a night out with friends. The Rio Theatre is an independent art and movie house located at 1660 West Broadway, at Commercial Drive, and is easily accessible by transit. Follow along on Facebook and Twitter for more film screenings, comedy showcases, and special event information.
Bard on the Beach returns this summer, with the white tents at Vanier Park hosting the award-winning Shakespeare Festival from June 4th until September 26th. With such a spectacular location, they are bringing back their very special Bard-B-Q fireworks package with tickets to a show, dinner, and private fireworks viewing for the Honda Celebration of Light.
Starting at 5:00pm on July 25th, July 29th, and August 5th, the Bard-B-Q package include tickets to The Comedy of Errors or Shakespeare’s Rebel followed by a delicious salmon barbecue and delectable desserts, complimentary tea and coffee. The evening culminates with a private view of the spectacular fireworks off English Bay. Tickets start at $95 for the whole package. Call the Bard Box Office at 604-739-0559 or (toll free) 1-877-739-0559 or order online through the Bard website.
Ben Elliott (Antipholus), Dawn Petten (Dromio). THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, 2015. Photo & Image Design: David Cooper & Emily Cooper
Win Bard on the Beach Fireworks Tickets
I have a four pack of Bard-B-Q tickets to give away for The Comedy of Errors on July 29th! Enjoy a night out with three friends, dinner, and the beautiful fireworks from the shores of Vanier Park. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment with your favourite Shakespeare quote (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, July 14, 2015. Must be 19+. Follow Bard on the Beach on Facebook and Twitter.
Bard on the Beach is one of Canada’s largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare festivals. Established in 1990, Bard is an annual summer festival with a mission to perform, explore and celebrate the genius of William Shakespeare surrounded by the natural beauty of Vancouver, British Columbia. Play performances run Tuesday through Sunday with matinees on selected weekends and weekdays. All evening performances start at 7:30pm.
Update The winner is @ArieleNorth!
Free movies, festivals, and family fun fill up our July days and nights as we hit the peak of summer in Vancouver. Miss604 is proud to sponsor Latin American Week in Vancouver from July 1st to July 12th, the Surrey Fusion Festival July 18th to July 19th, and the Squamish Logger Sports Festival at the end of the month.
This event list is updated several times a week so be sure to check back often and submit your events (for FREE) via the contact form.
July Events in Metro Vancouver
Jump to: Thursday, July 2nd to Sunday, July 5th, 2015
Jump to: Monday, July 6th to Sunday, July 12th, 2015
Jump to: Monday, July 13th to Sunday, July 19th, 2015
Jump to: Monday, July 20th to Sunday, July 26th 2015
Jump to: Monday, July 27th to Friday, July 31st 2015
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