I got my bag out from the closet and laid my clothes next to it. Sundress, bathing suit, sandals, floppy hat, sunglasses. I paused for a moment to review my selections, which all reminded me of our last tropical vacation. The fact that I could pack these items, which instantly make me at ease thinking about vacation time, just to go across town to the Westin Bayshore for a lovely getaway made me happy, and pretty excited.
#BayshoreStaycation at the Westin Bayshore
Welcomed in the lobby by Westin’s signature white tea scent on my nose really drove home the “I’m on vacation” vibe. I checked in and headed up to the tower room that John and I would call home for the next two nights.
A lovely welcome gift awaited me: A local craft beer sampler featuring some of my favourites, courtesy of H2 Rotisserie & Bar downstairs – the newest addition to the hotel. I saved the paddle for John and got to work on getting ready for the pool as my H2Oasis experience was waiting. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
Artists Steve and Sandy Pell were tasked with creating a large mural, designed to be an interactive public art piece that inspires values like connectedness, positivity and freedom. The result is #kitswings, now at Burrard and West 4th.
#KitsWings Mural in Kitsilano
Since its installation in July, the new #KitsWings mural has been the focus of over 400 photos on Instagram. The executive director of Kitsilano West 4th Ave Business Association, Jane McFadden, initially approached the team with the concept.
“Our design’s aesthetic was inspired by a Bald Eagle’s wings silhouetted against a powerful setting sun over Kitsilano. With all of our work, our goal is simple: we want to transform blank spaces into remarkable, memorable and interactive places,” says Sandy Pell. “Our aim to celebrate the diversity of the community by creating an abstract reminder of those beautiful moments which everyone can relate to. Ultimately, we hope to help put a smile on everyone’s face.”
If you’ve been to the Hootsuite HQ boardroom, to Kafka’s Coffee & Tea, Boeing Canada, or by the utility box on Maple and West 4th you’ve seen the duo’s work already.
With photos in mind, the mural has been designed to fit within a basic mobile phone resolution shot from the sidewalk so that photos can easily be shared on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat. This prevents any dangerous disruption to the flow of traffic if people were to stand in the bikeline or on the street to fit the whole mural in their camera. In summer months, the sun set shines directly on the mural’s gold-chrome paint, making it glitter and even more photo-ready.
Want to explore more? Check out the South Granville Art Walk or the Vancouver Mural Festival happening now in East Vancouver until August 12, 2017.
2017 marks the 39th anniversary of Pride in Vancouver, the most diverse festivals and parade in the city. There are over 20 Pride events throughout the summer and none draws as many people as the legendary Vancouver Pride Parade, with an expected audience of 650,000 on Sunday!
Vancouver Pride Parade
Where: Downtown Vancouver along Robson, Denman, and Beach Ave
When: Sunday, August 6, 2017 12:00pm to 3:00pm
The beautiful, diverse, colourful, and extremely fun Pride Parade is a staple of the Vancouver summer calendar, and with 130+ parade entries, there will lots of amazing floats you won’t want to miss. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
Join North America’s best airport for free family fun, live entertainment and more at the YVR Community Chill Out at one of the coolest little parks in greater Vancouver.
YVR Community Chill Out
When: Saturday, August 19, 2017 11:00am to 3:00pm
Where: Larry Berg Flight Path Park (Russ Baker Way, Richmond)
RSVP on Facebook »
This FREE family fun event includes live entertainment, local vendors and lots of exciting activities for families.
Performances include Bobs and Lolo, Derek Pitts, Fionn and David Morin. Latincouver will be on-site hosting free dance lessons along with face painters, bubble artists, magicians, craft tables, as well as a photo booth and jumbo board games.
Kids will also have the opportunity to participate in YVR’s Passport Challenge which consists of visiting various community partner booths to learn about the organization and have your passport stamped. Once they have received 8 out of 11 stamps, they can exchange their passport for some awesome YVR swag.
Free parking will be available at the BCIT Aerospace Campus. A free shuttle service will run regularly from BCIT and Templeton Canada Line Station to Flight Path Park (we have quadrupled the number of shuttle buses in comparison to last year’s event). For cyclists, The Bicycle Valet will be on site for convenient and secure bicycle parking.
The best things in (summer) life are free. Think long days of sunlight, wilderness hikes and big-name concerts – including Bif Naked and The Matinée – at Coquitlam’s new outdoor stage!
Just a half-hour SkyTrain ride from Vancouver, you can join the thousands who will be flocking to Lafarge Lake-Douglas station this month for free festivals and family-friendly entertainment. Did I mention on-site food trucks and craft beer? Read on for details about some of August’s best free events as well as some suggestions for exploring hiking trails that will lead you on some wild adventures. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
