Public Disco, a series of open-air dance parties in reimagined urban spaces, is coming to Ackery’s Alley in the heart of Vancouver’s downtown entertainment district. Public Disco at Ackery’s Alley will be the last big street party of the summer with music by Braue, Iain Howie, MA/AM, Ai Hashimoto & Solreia, a licensed outdoor dance floor, food stations and more.

Public Disco at Ackery’s Alley

Where: Ackery’s Alley (675 Smithe St, Vancouver)
When: Saturday, September 15 at 1:00pm to 8:00pm
Admission: FREE! RSVP on Facebook for info

Enjoy the licensed outdoor dance floor, the free sparkle station, hoop zone by DSU Hoop Club and ping pong by frida&frank from 1:00pm to 6:00pm. Chill in the lounge spaces by Oasis Pop-Ups, and enter to win a 2 pairs of tickets to Westward Music Festival shows happening nearby after Public Disco. Dress to express and hold down the dance floor for a chance to win a pair of tickets to Kali Uchis at The Orpheum or Rhye at The Vogue Theatre.

Snack on treats from Pizza Garden, Five Guys, H-Mart Food Court and Red Burrito all within a one block radius of Ackery’s Alley. All ages welcome! Follow Public Disco on Instagram for more info.

MRG Concerts’ Westward Music Festival returns for the second year to Vancouver’s downtown core from September 13-16, 2018. This year’s lineup features British singer, songwriter, composer, producer and author Blood Orange, two-time Grammy nominee Kali Uchis, critically acclaimed rhythmic pop star Kelela and YouTube sensation Poppy, and many more.

Westward Music Festival

When: September 13-16, 2018
Where: Multiple venues, Downtown Vancouver
Tickets: Individual show tickets and festival wristbands on sale online or in person a Red Cat Records.

Additional acts at this premiere multi-genre festival include alt-indie artist Angel Olsen, R&B downtempo soul act RHYE, electronic duo HONNE, Canadian Sub-Pop punk band METZ, Seattle grunge mainstays Mudhoney, Vancouver alt favourites Odds and Indigenous synth-rock band Nehiyawak. View the full line up here »

Follow the Westward Music Festival #WMF2018 on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram for more info.

The Vancouver International Flamenco Festival announces its spellbinding 2018 lineup of local and international flamenco artists, September 21-29, 2018 with free workshops and ticketed performances at various Vancouver venues.

Vancouver International Flamenco Festival

When: September 21-29, 2018
Where: Vancouver Playhouse, Scotiabank Dance Centre, Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre, Annex, the Kino, Vancouver Public Library

La Azulita Flamenco Ensemble, dancer Megan Matheson. Photo by Levent Erutku Photography.

The Vancouver International Flamenco Festival proudly presents the Canadian debut of Spain’s Sara Calero Company in Petisa Loca at the Vancouver Playhouse on September 22nd. Sara Calero is one of the main current references in the renewal of both Spanish and flamenco dance. The company’s piece shares the diaspora diaries of a woman and all women as thousands of Spaniards were forced to emigrate between Europe and America in the mid-twentieth century. Petisa Loca features dancer/choreographer Sara Calero, singer Loreto Arnaiz, guitarist José Almarcha, and the electronic music of The Lab.

The Festival also features some of the finest Canadian Flamenco artists with performances at the intimate Annex (Orpheum). Here is the schedule at a glance:

As one of few celebrated festivals devoted to Flamenco Art in North America, the VIFF has since its beginnings in 1990 grown to a mature understanding of Vancouver’s multicultural audiences by nurturing the form’s hybridized roots in Sephardic, Persian, Gypsy and Indian cultures and by striving to reflect and connect its diverse sociocultural identity through work narratives underlining flamenco’s universal message of humanistic tolerance.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to Spain’s Sara Calero Company performance at the Vancouver Playhouse on September 22nd. Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to get another entry by posting on Twitter:

[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a pair of tickets to a Vancouver International Flamenco Festival show http://ow.ly/yCqH30lCU7f @flamencoviff” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, September 6, 2018 at 8:00am. Follow the Vancouver International Flamenco Festival on Facebook and Twitter for more info.

Update The winner is @wildfireeffect!

Homfray Lodge is now Klahoose Wilderness Resort in Desolation Sound

I’m one of those ‘cup your mug of coffee in both hands, rest your elbows on the cedar railing of the lodge‘s balcony, peer out across the glassy waters of the pristine ocean inlet‘ kind of morning people. Ok, well maybe just when I’m on vacation since this is a luxury I don’t have every day, but it’s pretty much my favourite way to get my morning started.

Continuing my recap of our arrival at Homfray Lodge in Desolation Sound, John and I woke up to our first full day in this Cascadian paradise. Named one of Destination Canada’s Signature Experiences, the cruise up to the lodge through Desolation Sound was the perfect way to unwind and prepare for our time on this slice of upper Sunshine Coast mainland in the shadow of majestic Mt. Denman.

Homfray Lodge

All inclusive resort along the remote waters of world-renown Desolation Sound. 3 meals a day, in-room amenities, water activities, hiking, beer & wine, WiFI.

After a warm shower, I slipped on a wrap-around sweater and my comfiest shoes, and walked down the gravel path to the main lodge from our oceanfront chalet. A coffee urn was out already at 7:00am, so I had one hour before breakfast to sip and savour the silence of the morning with my seaside views. A chalkboard placed out front had our schedule for the day: “8am breakfast. 9am Eco tour”. There are several excursions you can take during your stay (one of which I’ll write about tomorrow) but for our first full day at Homfray Lodge, John told me flat out: “I want nothing more than to sit by the water and read.” Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

The iconic Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte is back in Starbucks cafés across the country to celebrate its 15th year! Also peeking their lids out of the pumpkin patch will be returning favourites: Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino® blended beverage and Teavana® Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea Latte.

There are a variety of ways to enjoy the classic and timeless PSL! Get creative and customize to suit your taste, like over ice, with a double shot of espresso, or try it with Almond Beverage – the options are almost endless. At the heart of the original PSL is Starbucks signature Espresso Roast, which pairs beautifully with steamed milk, real pumpkin and the classic fall flavours of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.

You’ll be ready to unbox your cozy knits and take a walk in the Stanley Park to capture leaves turning all the colours of the season in no time.

Win a Gift Card

To celebrate the return of the mighty PSL, I have a $20 Starbucks gift card to give away. Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Take a photo of your #PSL and tag @Miss604 and @StarbucksCanada on Instagram (1 entry)
• Click below to get another entry by posting on Twitter:

[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a $20 @StarbucksCanada gift card #PSL #CoffeeLove http://ow.ly/p0Yq30lCG10″ quote=”Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2018. Follow Starbucks Canada on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more info.

Update The winner is @JenJenSG!