Zee Zee Theatre presents the world premiere of the fully-staged, female-led comedy, Unexpecting from May 5 to 21, 2023. Written by emerging Vancouver playwright Bronwyn Carradine, and directed by Zee Zee Theatre’s Artistic and Executive Director Cameron Mackenzie, the heartfelt work explores the challenges and triumphs of modern-day female relationships, as queer partners navigate careers, finances, and the desire to build a family with love, ambition, and compassion.

Unexpecting Premiere at Zee Zee Theatre

• When: May 5 to 21, 2023 at 8:00pm Wednesday through Saturday and 2:00pm Saturday and Sunday (except for May 6)
• Where: Studio 16 (1551 West 17th Ave, Vancouver)
• Admission: Tickets are available for purchase online; Zee Zee Theatre is also offering an accessible pricing option. Each performance of Unexpecting will have 15 Reduced Barrier Tickets available at $15 each (excluding the preview performance on May 5)

Set in East Vancouver, married couple Annie and Josephine have been trying to start a family for the past five years. Annie, a struggling writer with one, decade-old bestseller to her name, and Jo, a painter who longs for motherhood, start to second-guess themselves and their relationship as their patience and finances reach rock-bottom. Complicated by the presence of Annie’s brash, lifelong best friend, Pam, the couple are tested when presented with the sudden opportunity to adopt a baby.

“While Unexpecting is a joyful and insightful celebration of queer love and the intricacies of relationships, this play is truly for anyone who has struggled with their decision to become parents,” says Mackenzie, Unexpecting director and Zee Zee Theatre Artistic and Executive Director. “Written by one of Vancouver’s most compelling new playwrights, and full of quick-witted humour and enormous heart, Unexpecting offers Vancouver audiences a fresh perspective on love, loss, commitment, and the unpredictable journey towards modern motherhood.”

Initially developed as part of the Arts Club Theatre Company’s “Listen to This Series,” and first presented as an audio play in February 2021, Unexpecting was praised for its “humour, warmth, and fast-moving dialogue” by Stir Vancouver. Zee Zee Theatre’s production of Unexpecting represents the first time this play will be performed in front of a live audience.

Inspired by Carradine’s adolescent affection for romantic comedies, Unexpecting is a love letter to female relationships in our modern world, with relatable characters, a familiar setting, and an uplifting message about the courage and vulnerability it takes to hold on to your loved ones.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to the Opening Night performance on May 6th. Here’s how you can enter to win:

Unexpecting stars Elizabeth Barrett, Jessica Heafey, Melissa Oei and Rahat Saini. Set design is by Lachlan Johnston, costume design by Carmen Alatorre, lighting design by Sophie Tang, sound design by Shawn Sorensen, and props design by Carol MacDonald.

For more information and to stay up to date with Zee Zee Theatre, visit their website and follow Zee Zee Theatre on Instagram and Facebook.

The #CHVCatchUp is a monthly series featuring the latest updates and news from Covenant House Vancouver (“CHV”). Miss604 is proud to be the Official Blog Partner of CHV. This month’s post has been written by Jason Bosher.

What Is Mental Health and Who Is Affected?

May 1^st to 7^th is Mental Health Awareness Week. Mental health refers to a state of well-being, and includes emotions, feelings, thoughts, and our ability to manage life’s highs and lows. Mental health and mental illness are often used interchangeably, but are not the same thing.

Everyone is either directly or indirectly affected by mental illness.

Mental health stats on youth:

• Most youth living with a mental illness experience symptoms before age 18, but only 1 in 5 children, in Canada, receive appropriate mental health services.
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people between the ages of 15 and 34.
• Approximately 20% of Canadian youth are affected by either a mental illness or a disorder.

Some warning signs to look for in young people: extreme anxiety, extreme moods, feelings of hopelessness, anger, changes in patterns like sleeping or eating, self-injury.

Supporting Youth at Covenant House Vancouver

Covenant House Vancouver’s approach to supporting the mental health of youth is to provide holistic, wrap-around services.

To try and meet the needs of at-risk youth in the community, Covenant House Vancouver opened a new facility. The new facility enabled Covenant House to increase the programs and services that they can offer youth, to support them as they work through their trauma and any mental health challenges that they may have, as they work towards the futures that they deserve.

Let’s take a quick tour of the new facility from the need/space aspects that support a youth’s mental wellness:

Artistic Expression/Dedicated Art Therapy Room: “Art therapy is used … to assess and treat the following: … mental and emotional problems; substance abuse and addictions; family and relationship issues; abuse and domestic violence; social and emotional difficulties related to disability and illness; trauma and loss; physical, cognitive, and neurological problems; and psychosocial difficulties related to medical illness.”

Run by Registered Clinical Counsellors and art therapists, the art therapy room offers a non-verbal way to communicate and is an integral part of the holistic approach to healing.

Nutrition/Commercial-Grade Kitchen: A study conducted on Toronto’s homeless youth population found that youth facing homelessness were nutritionally vulnerable. Being nutritionally vulnerable has significant ramifications including: poor health, which is a barrier to obtaining and maintaining employment; possible impairment of cognitive and physiological functions; and exacerbation of depression and substance use. The large commercial kitchen in the new facility provides fresh, healthy meals to youth at all three of Covenant House’s locations (Drake, Seymour, and Pender). The equipment enables staff to expand their menus and provide youth with even more variety of nutritious meals.

Exercise/Gym and Fitness Room: Many youth who access Covenant House’s programs and services, have experienced trauma, which can affect their mental health, as well as their physical health. Having access to a gym and fitness room, provides many benefits to youth. The fitness room is home to weights, treadmills, rowing machines, and elliptical trainers. The gym is a place where youth can engage in basketball, pickleball and other activities. The benefits of both spaces include: a reduction in stress, improved cognitive ability, physical activity may prevent depression and anxiety disorders, and may enhance the impact of addiction treatment. In addition, these facilities allow youth to form trusting relationships, both with their peers and with staff, in safe, judgement-free spaces.

The gym is also equipped with a retractable screen for movie nights. Watching movies has shown to boost moods, provide relaxation, inspire, motivate, reduce stress, improve relationships, and can help educate and enlighten.

Quiet Space/Yoga-Meditation Room: The benefits of meditation can include increased self-awareness,developing a new perspective on what’s stressing you, reduced negativity, lowering your heart rate and blood pressure, and improving your sleep. During yoga, brain cells make new connections, and strengthen areas of the brain resulting in improved cog­nitive skills, reasoning, decision making, memory, learning, reac­tion time, and mental acuity. The dedicated room at Covenant House enables youth to find a quiet space to not only calm and centre themselves, but it is also a safe space for them to explore and develop their own spiritual, religious and cultural identities.

Musical Expression/Music Room: Music can create significant improvements in mental health. Playing a musical instrument involves both sides of your brain. The left side controls logic and the right side controls the playing. This helps improve memory, increases grey matter, and can help reduce anxiety, stress, and depression. The new music room at Covenant House Vancouver is a safe space where youth can go to learn an instrument, improve their skills, and improve peer relationships by playing together.

How You Can Support the Mental Health of Youth

Covenant House Vancouver is over 90% privately funded. That means that the life-changing work that they do relies on community support. If you would like to help youth overcome trauma and improve their mental health, starting May 15^th, Covenant House Vancouver’s Double Match Campaign means that any donation made from May 15^th to June 30^th will be matched. This way you can double your impact when you support vulnerable youth. Visit the Covenant House Vancouver website to donate.

Is your must try restaurant list becoming too long to keep track of? Tired of saving that insta worthy spot for cocktails then forgetting all about it? Look no further! We’re going to be compiling our current culinary favourites into one convenient spot for our new Vancouver Foodie Friday feature. This month, we’re focusing on Mother’s Day and long-awaited spring features:

Vancouver Foodie Friday – May Treats and Eats

Maenam

• Where: 1938 W 4th Ave., Vancouver
• Details: Celebrate springtime in the heart of Kitsilano as Maenam launches its new, seasonal multi-course and à la carte menus. Chef and owner Angus An has expanded the bar area of Maenam, transforming it into a casual 16-seat lounge – featuring à la carte dining for walk-in guests. Maenam’s dining room is now exclusively available by reservation for guests to experience An’s multi-course Chef’s Menus and during the day for his delicious value-driven lunch sets. The goal was to streamline service and experience, while never sacrificing on quality or taste. The spring highlights include Thai Cupcakes with Pomelo, Grilled Prawn and Banana Blossom Salad, and Roasted Pork Belly Hang le Curry. Yum! Reservations for lunch sets and Chef’s Menus can be made online through Resy or by calling Maenam at (604) 730-5579.
  

L’Abattoir Restaurant and BETA5 Collaborate for Mother’s Day

• Where: 217 Carrall St., Vancouver
• Details: L’Abattoir Restaurant has announced a collaboration with local chocolatier BETA5 in celebration of both Mother’s Day and the anticipated return of L’Abattoir’s Sunday dinner service starting in May. The chocolates will be included as a take-away gift with L’Abattoir’s Mother’s Day Chef’s Menu on Sunday, May 14th. For any guests that miss a reservation on Mother’s Day, the collaboration chocolates will also be available with each Chef’s Menu sold on the Sundays following Mother’s Day throughout May. In addition, BETA5 will be offering the collaboration chocolate collection for sale in their award-winning chocolate shop and on their website in time for Mother’s Day. The Mother’s Day Chef’s Menu can be reserved online or by calling the restaurant directly at (604) 568-1701.

Bar Susu’s New Spring Menu

• Where: 209 E 6th Ave., Vancouver
• Details: Mount Pleasant’s Michelin-recommended destination Bar Susu has just launched a brand new Chef’s Choice tasting menu, featuring a delicious curation of dishes (over two and a half hours of enjoyment) by chef Marc Marayag. Guests will be treated to a variety of snacks, treats and plates highlighting local and seasonal ingredients – featuring their signature contemporary European-Japanese cooking style. Grab a group of friends, order their recommended sake or a bottle of wine and share these many delicious options!

Provence Marinaside Announces Re-Opening of TWB – The Wine Bar

• Where: 1177 Marinaside Crescent Vancouver
• Details: Provence Marinaside officially re-opens TWB- The Wine Bar on May 1st after a three-year pandemic hiatus. Originally launched in April 2013, TWB quickly established itself as the ‘go to’ place for fabulous wines and casual bites. “We had to close TWB during the pandemic period as it’s a small space and we couldn’t make it work with the distancing restrictions. Now that all that has been lifted, we are looking forward to welcoming people back,” says Provence Marinaside’s Wine Director Joshua Carlson.
  
  Prior to the pandemic, TWB was recognized throughout North America for having one of the largest wine selections on the continent. As that fact hasn’t changed, let’s welcome TWB back with open arms and show our support!

Table One Dinner Series at Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar

• Where: 845 Burrard St., Vancouver
• Details: Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar is thrilled to announce the return of their popular Table One Series, an indulgent tasting menu experience led by Alex Chen. The intimate dinner series is offered one evening per month, and features a ten-course set menu highlighting seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients. The first dinner of the Table One Series is Friday, April 28, followed by May 19th and June 16th. This experience is limited to only 24 guests; therefore, it is the perfect intimate, date night opportunity. Tickets start at $250 per person and can be purchased here.

WA-BAGEL, Japanese Style Bagels Coming to Canada

• Where: 666 Burrard St., Vancouver
• Details: Closely located to Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar, Vancouverites can be the first in Canada to try the new, Japanese style, delicious and airy bagels. Aburi Restaurants Canada is opening its brand new WA-BAGEL concept in the heart of downtown Vancouver in late-spring. The new eatery will feature both sweet and savoury bagels, available in innovative and classic flavours and fillings. If you are a fan of WA-BAGEL, you can also visit their sister restaurant, WA! CURRY. Follow WA-BAGEL’s instagram for more updates on their opening!

Vancouver Foodster presents the 9^th Annual Vancouver Pizza Challenge

• Where: Metro Vancouver and Squamish, see below
• Details: From April 5 – 30, 2023 pizza-lovers can enjoy over three weeks of delicious pizzas from 9 restaurants across metro Vancouver and Squamish. Each restaurant has created a new pizza creation that they will be featuring during the challenge period on their menus for all to order and try. Some of the restaurants will be offering whole pizza pies while others will offer whole pizza pies and slices for dine-in, takeout and some available for delivery through the various apps as well. 
  
  The official list of participating restaurants on is now live on Vancouver Foodster’s site. Tag on social media #PizzaChallengeYVR or @vanfoodster to be a part of the conversation! You will be able to view the line-up of Pizza creations along with the photos and details for each pizza, as well you will be able to see the style of pizza each restaurant offers. 

Truffles Fine Foods Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet at VanDusen Gardens

• Where: 5251 Oak St., Vancouver
• Details: For the first time ever, Truffles Fine Foods is offering a Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet at VanDusen Gardens. Their award-winning chefs have created an exceptional culinary experience for $90 per person ($25 for children under 11) + tax. Enjoy a complimentary mimosa, bottomless coffee and a scrumptious buffet that includes desserts. Choose from two 2-hour time slots (10:30am to 12:30pm or 1:30pm to 3:30pm) on May 14, 2023. Book your spot today!
  
  Note: Admission to the Garden is an extra fee and must be purchased separately online or in-person at the Visitor’s desk inside VanDusen’s Visitor’s Centre.

Check back next month for May’s Foodie Friday and be sure to tag @miss604 during your adventures and send us recommendations of your own!

The Odlum Brown Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival has just announced an exciting lineup of 30 free shows this summer, in addition to a host of extraordinary arts programming. The Festival will feature an exciting and eclectic celebration of jazz, music, art and culture July 20-23, 2023.

Fort Langley Jazz Festival’s Lineup of Free Shows

It’s the most diverse line-up yet spanning cultures, genres and borders with extraordinary local, regional, national and international musicians performing across four outdoor stages.

Enjoy local bands like Two Much Guitars with Oliver Gannon and Bill Coon; Raagaverse, a collaborative Indo-Jazz fusion quartet; and Jasmine Jazz which blends the music of the Jodi Proznick Jazz Trio with traditional Chinese music. National acts include two-time Juno jazz vocalist Caity Gyorgy; Indigenous artist and 2020 Juno award winner Celeigh Cardinal; and the high-energy nine-piece group, Apollo Suns that combine instrumental, jazz, rock and psychedelic music. The Festival will also feature artists and bands from around the world including Gabriel Palatchi Trio, an Argentinian pianist and composer.

Cool Blues Shows (Ticketed)

The Festival will host a two-night blues show on Friday and Saturday, July 21 and 22 at Fort Community Park. Experience two unforgettable nights of incredible blues performances from around the world from 4:30pm to 10:00pm each night. 

2023 Cool Blues Show acts are:

Early bird weekend passes are available for just $100 until April 30, 2023. Single tickets and packages go on sale May 1, 2023. Regular Weekend Pass: $120; Single Tickets: $65/night; Youth Tickets (13 – 18 years of age): $30/night; 6 Pack Single Tickets: $340; 12 and under – free, accompanied by an adult.

The Cool Blues Shows will feature a licensed beer garden, food trucks, games area, vendors and more!

Free Events Around Fort Langley During the Festival

The festival kicks off Thursday afternoon with a free community concert inside the Fort Langley Community Hall, with Echoes of the Big Band Era featuring the Dal Richards Orchestra. Dal Richards was a mainstay of the big band orchestra era in Vancouver for many years. This concert is expected to draw a big crowd so make sure to register for free here as there will be limited seating available.

Launching the weekend’s incredible free festivities will be a crowd-favourite – the New Orleans-style Mardi Gras Strolling Parade on Saturday morning, July 22, 2023. After making its way from the Fort Langley Farmers Market to the Community Hall Main Stage, the festival’s official opening ceremony will take place. The strolling parade will feature two high energy New Orleans style bands: RazzMaJazz Ensemble and Noxious Obs Society Band. Dress in your best Mardi Gras attire and to arrive at 9:30am.

Sunday’s Jazz AWE (Alternative Worship Experience) gives a musical twist to the Sunday church experience. Live jazz music is woven into readings, reflection and conversations. Hosted by Rev. Sophia Ducey, this year’s Jazz AWE features the Circle of Voices Gospel Group, with the incredible vocals of BC Entertainment Hall of Fame Star Candus Churchill, Leora Cashe, Joseph Chappel and Will Sanders with Jaye Krebs on piano. Register for free here.

On top of all of these wonderful performances, experience the Indigenous Art & Cultural Exhibition, multiple art vendor areas, a licensed beer garden, and more! Kids can enjoy creating harmonicas and participating in a drum circle workshop at the Kid Zone, while the Art Zone will host even more workshops and activities.

With fantastic music, art, and cultural activities throughout the village, the Fort Langley Jazz Festival promises to be a unique experience that celebrates the power of music and art to unite cultures and communities.

Follow along on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest news and updates from the Festival.

Children’s Theatre of Richmond Association (“CTORA”) presents The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical – an electrifying musical stage adaptation of the best-selling novel by Rick Riordan, running from May 18 to 28, 2023 at Vancouver’s Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre.

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical

• When: May 18 to 28, 2023 at 7:00pm Thursdays through Sundays and 2:00pm Saturday to Monday
• Where: JCC Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre (950 W 41st Ave, Vancouver)
• Admission: Available for purchase online from $18 (+service fee)

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical follows the story of Percy Jackson, a half-blood son of a Greek god, who discovers that he has extraordinary powers he cannot control. As if that wasn’t enough, Percy embarks on an action-packed adventure to recover Zeus’s master lightning bolt, which has been stolen, and prevent a devastating war between the gods.

The two-act full-stage musical with intermission features adult performers, a 5-piece live orchestra, Ancient Greek and modern-day scene changes, lightning & sound effects along with giant puppets, bringing the world of Percy Jackson to life on stage.

“The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is a captivating story of courage, friendship, and self-discovery that will inspire audiences of all ages,” says Director Mark Carter. “We are thrilled to bring this electrifying production to Vancouver, and we invite all theatre enthusiasts to join us for a truly magical experience.”

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to opening night (Friday, May 19 at 7:00pm). Here’s how you can enter to win:

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