From parking lot to park, to coffee spot! The new 0.8-acre park in Downtown Vancouver at the intersection of Smithe and Richards streets is about to get Kafka’s in the Park.
Vancouver Park Board rendering of Smithe and Richards park
Kafka’s in the Park at Smithe and Richards
Known for cultivating neighbourhood gathering places, Kafka’s Coffee Roasting is opening their new downtown café through a dynamic partnership with the Vancouver Park Board and the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (“DVBIA”).
Located at the corner of Smithe and Richards, the new café will serve as a welcoming, engaging community space for over 10,000 residents and 17,000 employees who live and work within a five-minute walk of the new park, set to open this spring.
Kafka’s in the Park will anchor the park’s southwest entrance, welcoming visitors to this lively new corner of the downtown core. The café aims to seamlessly blend into the park space with a dramatic folding window wall that opens up to the plaza area in warmer weather, allowing seating to flow outdoors. Visitors and neighbours will be able to enjoy quality locally roasted fairly-traded and fresh-crop coffees, tasty house-made sandwiches and pastries, and Kafka’s own fresh house-baked sourdough bread, along with soft-serve ice cream available only at the park.
Owner Aaron Kafka – Katharine Manson photo
The park will have a children’s playground, dynamic walkways and seating areas, lush landscaping and innovative urban architecture. Designed by Scott Cohen in collaboration with the project’s architectural firm, Dialog, the new space will have eye-catching high-contrast graphics and rainbow-tinted lucite mobiles casting coloured light across downtown Vancouver’s urban backdrop. Custom-crafted banquette seating and tubular Marcel Breuer chrome furniture provide functional style while volcanic grey floors, finely crafted local Douglas Fir carpentry, and natural plants round out the aesthetic.
Scott Cohen Design
As a result of both the DVBIA’s desire to strengthen the connection between people and the places they share, and Kafka’s established support of local artists, the Park Board will be engaging the DVBIA and Kafka’s to partner on future park-programming activities.
This weekend Miss604 is proud to sponsor the Portobello West Spring Market happening Saturday and Sunday at Creekside Community Recreation Centre in False Creek, and Spring Break at Burnaby Village Museum is ongoing with free family fun! Find these events and more things to do in Vancouver this weekend listed blow:
The family behind Vancouver’s beloved Anh and Chi, having been former refugees from Vietnam themselves, is launching a campaign to help raise emergency funds for Ukraine via the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – Canada.
Anh and Chi – Photo Submitted
Former Refugees to Support Ukraine Through Food in Vancouver
📍 Anh and Chi (3388 Main St, Vancouver)
From now until May 15, 2022 (Asian Heritage Month), proceeds from Anh and Chi’s Reservation-By-Donation program will be donated to the cause, contributing to the expected four million displaced Ukrainians with safe shelter, food and necessities. Brother and sister duo owners Amelie Nguyen and Vincent Nguyen are matching donations up to $5,000.
In addition, on Friday March 25, 2022, the Lac Viet Education Society, along with several Vietnamese community leaders, are hosting a fundraising banquet with live music, silent auction, and 50/50 draw. Up to 700 entrepreneurs, nonprofit community members, and influential leaders from across the Lower Mainland are anticipated to attend.
“Our parents, Lý and Hoàng Nguyễn, arrived in Vancouver as Vietnamese refugees by boat in 1980 and what is happening in Ukraine reminds our family of that devastating time – the displacement of so many women, children and seniors,” explains Amelie. “I was starting to feel helpless with the tragedy over in Ukraine, not to mention other ongoing crises around the world, until our family friends Tammy Dao and Nhung Davis of Lac Viet Education Society reached out to us to fundraise for Ukraine.”
This is the first time Anh and Chi’s community of staff, patrons, family and friends are supporting an international cause.
Anh and Chi is not only known for their delicious Vietnamese fare, natural BC wine, creative craft cocktails and exceptional service, but also their community of passionate creatives, entrepreneurs, and caring industry folks and patrons who come together for collective action. As a pivot during COVID-19 to up safety (less crowding) and support local communities, the independent eatery’s Reservation-By-Donation program was initiated and continues to make an impact.
Anh and Chi’s Reservation-by-Donation program has raised over $50,000 for local charities since December 2020. Their community of patrons have donated to local organizations that focuses on food security, housing, mental health counselling and necessities, especially with BIPOC, hardly reached, marginalized and at-risk youth and families.
The Anh and Chi team thanks their guests – with their support and donations, 100 percent of their gifts were given to:
$19,770 to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre
$10,900 to Creative Greater Vancouver Food Bank
$5430 to the Vancouver Black Therapy Fund
$5320 to Backpack Buddies
$3000 to the BC Hospitality Fund
$2180 to The Bloom Group
$1160 to Elimin8hate
$1070 to Directions Youth Services
$860 to Immigrant Services Society of BC
Guests have the option to book a table – $10 per person – in advance through their online Reservation-By-Donation program. All proceeds go directly to the selected charity. Local nonprofit organizations are nominated by staff and patrons via email or social media. There are always three to four nonprofits for guests to choose from, changing every three to six months. Reservations are not required to dine at Anh and Chi – walk-in guests are warmly welcomed.
Support the BC Vietnamese Canadians Fundraiser for Ukraine by sponsoring a gift for the auction, joining the benefit dinner, and/or donating to this campaign benefiting UNHCR-Canada directly.
Since 2006, bakeries and cafes around the world have dedicated March 20th to two things: deliciously tasty macarons, and a great cause. Here’s how you can participate in Macaron Day in Vancouver:
4717 Hastings St, Burnaby & 1558 Johnston Road, White Rock
Cause: 50% of sales from Faubourg and Chez Christophe’s specially created 6 piece pre-packed macaron box will be donated to the Canada Ukraine Foundation. Customized in the distinct blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag, Faubourg’s Honey and Sour Cream macaron will be available for purchase individually in-stores and Chez Christophe’s 6-pack of Blueberry and Passionfruit Macarons (3 of each) will be available for pre-orders and in-stores on Saturday, March 19th only — Note this is the day before Macaron Day so don’t miss out!
Cause: The Cherry Blossom Macaron will be available for a limited time only! On Sunday, March 20th, Mon Paris will donate 50% of macaron sales to World Central Kitchen to help their humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. World Central Kitchen has already served over one million fresh meals to families across Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Moldova and Hungary. Founded by Chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen works with established restaurants on the ground and they source and hire staff locally.
Cause: Ladurée will be making a contribution based on macaron sales March 20th, across all locations and the website, to Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian Relief Efforts in Ukraine.
Journée internationale du macaron
Macaron Day was founded in France (Journée internationale du macaron) by Pierre Hermé in 2006. It’s a day to celebrate the colours of spring with a bright palette of treats. Macaron Day events will be happening overseas, in New York, and in Toronto. Over the last few years it has become a Vancouver tradition as well.
Macarons (not to be confused with macaroons) are meringue-based confections commonly filled with buttercream or jam with a delicate soft and crunchy outer shell. All you need to do is visit a participating “Macaron Day” bakery or cafe on March 20th and you’ll be given a macaron and be invited to make a donation their chosen charity.
Do you know of any more locations? The list will be updated as offerings and specials are announced.
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (“VCBF”) presented by Coromandel Properties returns April 1 to 23, 2022 to celebrate one of the most beautiful times of year in our city. From ticketed events to free outdoor fun for the family, and directions to all the best blossom photo ops, it’s a highlight of the calendar year for me! Here’s what’s in store:
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival – Miss604 Rebecca Bollwitt
Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival 2022
First and foremost, check out the Neighbourhood Map which includes what’s in bloom right now. From there, take your cherry blossom experience to a whole other level with these events:
