It’s back! The annual, free, Monstercat Compound block party returns to Railtown on September 18, 2021.

Monstercat Compound 2021

When: Saturday, September 18, 2021 2:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: Monstercat HQ (380 Railway Street, Vancouver)
Admission: Free, RSVP online here. Premium passes are also available for $25.

Festivities will include live electronic music on two stages, with performances from some of Canada’s top names in electronic music including The Funk Hunters, Tony Romera, and more.

The event will also include live art, video games, music education, merch, food trucks and much more. Compound welcomes fans, families alike, offering something for every Vancouverite.

Shop

Stock up on Monstercat apparel and accessories. The Merch Team will be on-site again with a jam-packed booth brimming with awesome items. The Shop booth will feature a huge sample sale featuring a choice selection of products released throughout the last 2 years, including some previously sold out items. Monstercat will have men’s, women’s, and unisex pieces available for purchase. You can also expect on-site heat printing of some classic Monstercat designs. For the first time ever, you’ll be able to pick your placements and build your own customized piece.

Art

Compound is so much more than just two stages of awesome music. This year they are expanding the live art element of their event by welcoming a lineup of Vancouver-based artists.

Monstercat is a Canadian independent electronic music record label based in Vancouver and founded in 2011.

The Lower Lonsdale Business Improvement Area (“LLBIA”) has announced the return of the highly popular, and free, Shipyards Festival which will take place in the Shipyards District in North Vancouver on Saturday September 25th.

Shipyards Festival 2021

When: Saturday, September 25, 2021 from 12:00pm to 10:00pm
Where: Lower Lonsdale, The Shipyards, and Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver
Admission: Free

“This is great news for the community, businesses, and the bands – we are all eager to get back to celebrating and enjoying large events together,” said Greg Holmes, Executive Director of the Lower Lonsdale BIA. “When we hosted this event in 2019, more than 15,000 people attended so we knew we had to bring the festival back.”

Shipyards Festival will feature four music stages and offer activities and attractions for all ages.

• The Commons Stage: Bedouin Soundclash, XL the Band, Small Town Artillery, MNGWA, Turunesh, Francis Arevalo, Redwoods, Nimkish, Ben Cotrill
• Shipbuilders Square Stage: The Zolas, Astrocolour, IAMTHELIVING, Harlequin Gold, Via Barcelonia, Bridgehill, Grade School, The Della Kit, Bukola Balogun
• Seaspan Family Stage: Ginalina, Robin Reddy Show, Matt Henry
• Burrard Dry Dock: Celebrating World Maritime Day with North Shore Celtic Ensemble, Early Spirit, Kierah
• Lonsdale Quay Stage 12:00pm to 5:00pm: Ivan Hartle, Myc Sharratt, Michaela Slinger, Bukola Balogun

During the day, kids and families are sure to enjoy the Seaspan Family Zone in The Pipe Shop thanks to entertainment provided by Ginalina, Robin Reddy Show, and Trained Human Matt Henry, as well as face-painting, balloon arts, and crafts.

The Burrard Dry Dock will feature Celtic performances celebrating World Maritime Day. Lonsdale Quay Stage will host a full day of intimate and emerging recording artists.  

Parking will be limited so biking, walking or using transit is encouraged. A bike valet service will be available. Follow the Shipyards District on Facebook for more info.

I recently had the chance to visit Vancouver Island’s newest attraction, the Malahat Skywalk, and it’s like no attraction I’ve experienced before!

Visiting the Malahat Skywalk

The experience starts at the welcome centre, where you’ll find a small gift shop and cafe just past the ticket gates. Down a gravel path, are several carvings and natural art pieces that offer fun photo ops for families as children jump up on stumps and pose making silly faces – and this is just the beginning of the experience. The path leads to the elevated TreeWalk, a 600m boardwalk amongst the trees, where kids can also do a little scavenger hunt and spot bent wood owls, carved birds and more along the arbutus and cedar-lined walkway.

The walkway has a very gentle incline until you reach the main attraction: a 250m spiral ramp that offers incredible panoramic views of Finlayson Arm, Saanich Peninsula, Mount Baker and the distant Coast Mountains.

Before you wind your way up the ramp you will need to decide how you want to get back down: Will you walk or will you slide? If you’d like to take the slide (20m high and 50m long) that twists through the inner part of the spiral, you can pick up a mat at the bottom. Carry the mat to the top with you as it will be your way down on the slide.

Once you get to the top, stopping for many photo ops along the way, you can also walk across a net – looking all the way down to the bottom of the spiral.

There are places to sit, info boards to read, and of course the view.

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Whether you slide back down or take a leisurely stroll back down the ramp, there’s a thrill is simply being up on the skywalk regardless.

More tips:

• The whole walk is 2.2km in length so wear comfortable shoes. Sneakers/runners are also good to walk across the net at the top. I was wearing flip flops and I felt like my toes would slip through the sturdy rope. They wouldn’t, but better shoes would have given me more confidence.
• On a hot summer day, I would recommend bringing some water and even a snack with you to enjoy before you walk back along either the elevated TreeWalk or the gravel path below that leads you back to the welcome centre.
• It is recommended that you plan for about 90 minutes for the whole experience, so plan your visit accordingly.
• When you purchase tickets online, they’re good for a year from your purchase date so even if your plans change, you can visit another time within that year.
• Adult passes are $31.95 and an annual adult pass is $87.00, so if you plan on visiting every season – which would be awesome to see all the changing colours in the fall, the blossoms in the spring, it’s worth the upgrade.

The Malahat Skywalk opened in July and it’s now open seven days a week, 10:00am to 6:00pm, 365 days a year.

Getting to Vancouver Island

Thanks to Helijet for getting me over to Vancouver Island so I could have this experience.

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The 35 minute flight from Downtown Vancouver to Victoria was really scenic, and such a thrill after not flying anywhere in over a year! Keep an eye on their social media for flash sales.

View these images and more in my Instagram stories, posts and reels.

FVDED Presents, 2021’s version of the now iconic FVDED in the Park series, will be at the PNE Amphitheatre (and beyond) September 10-11, 2021.

Playing at three locations across Vancouver: the PNE Amphitheatre, Celebrities and Fortune Sound Club, FVDED Presents reimagines the FVDED festival into a celebration of music and culture as a number artists come together for this special series of events.

FVDED Presents

“We are extremely proud of the deep connection the fans have with this festival,” says Alvaro Prol, co-founder of Blueprint, who organizes the event along with partner Live Nation. “FVDED has become one of the most significant urban music festivals in Canada, drawing 50,000 fans each year. FVDED Presents is about connecting the artists, creatives and the music of FVDED with the fans in smaller festival experiences over two days.”

Tickets

Tickets go on sale Friday, August 20, 2021 at 11:00am. Those who had tickets for FVDED in the Park (at Holland Park in Surrey) can transfer 2021 tickets to 2022 and still receive the $50 Legends Pack to use onsite for 2022. Organizers will be offering full refunds to anyone that would like them, Front Gate will send a message to fans tomorrow/Tuesday with updated information. FVDED In The Park ticket holders will also have an option to use your tickets to attend the PNE events, otherwise each event will be sold separately.

The other day when my SPUD Vancouver grocery order arrived I received an email receipt and I noticed in the bottom left it told me how far my organic products traveled to get to SPUD’s warehouse: it was 28km. The average distance that products are transported to a typical grocery store in Canada is 2502km. That made me feel pretty good, as did all the plant-based products inside my SPUD bin!

SPUD Local and Organic Grocery

It is estimated that we currently put almost 10 kcal of fossil fuel energy into our food system for every 1 kcal of energy we get from our food. Food grown closer to home is fresher, produces fewer transportation emissions, and supports local farmers. As the distance food travels decreases, so does the need for processing and refrigeration to reduce spoilage. Organic, local good is good for us, and good for the planet!

Here are some tips from SPUD that can help us make decisions that are good for the planet:

1. Buy organic

Organic products have less pesticides and they’re fresher, GMO-free, and better for the environment. Look for dairy products labeled ‘pasture raised’ or ‘100% grass fed’ and for pork, chicken or eggs with a ‘certified organic’ label. Swapping conventionally raised chicken breasts for organic chicken is a simple way to get started.  Check out the large variety of organic meats at SPUD.

2. Buy local

Local food reduces food miles—this helps to alleviate our dependence on fossil fuels, reduce air pollution, and cut back on greenhouse gas emissions. Go support your local community and your environment!  Learn more about local, organic, and certified farmers that SPUD sources from and supports.

3. Opt for plant–based meals 

Minor changes like reducing meals with meat gradually, or having a meat-free day each week, can be simple (and effective!) options for doing your part. There are some great plant-based proteins such as quinoa, soy, seitan, walnut, and amaranth that can provide a rich source of protein and other nutrients without harming the environment. Check out the range of plant-based options they offer.

Enter to Win

I’m giving away a SPUD bin loaded with $150 of plant-based goodies! Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Like/comment on this post on Facebook (1 entry)
• Copy/paste the text below on Twitter for a bonus entry

I will draw one winner from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, August 24, 2021.

For Miss604 Readers/Followers

Not a SPUD customer? Check out with promo code MISS604 and you’ll get $15 off your first order when you spend $50 or more. Already a SPUD customer? Use the same code for $5 off your next order over $50. Valid for all locations, August, 2021.

UPDATE The winner is Mary!