Having recently posted about some of the top summer date night activities — that won’t cost you a thing — I came across a wonderful outdoor event that is bound to entertain. For the third year, the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra is hosting a free, family-friendly summer evening of live music inspired by the classics and iconic pop culture.
Free Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra Performance
Where: Jack Poole Plaza at Burrard Landing (1055 Canada Place) When: Thursday, August 4, 2016 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm Facebook RSVP
Presented by PCI and Ledcor, this free summer evening event will be performed by the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra, led by Maestro Kenneth Hsieh. The performance takes place at Jack Poole Plaza at Burrard Landing in the heart of downtown Vancouver. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of Stanley Park, the Burrard Inlet and the North Shore Mountains while listening to an enchanting programme of live symphony music.
Berlioz – Roman Carnival Overture
Horner/Arr Moss – Titanic Medley
Saint-Saens – Danse Bacchanale
Bladt – Pirates of the Caribbean Medley
Enesco – Romanian Rhapsody
Sibelius – Finlandia
Williams – Selections from the Star Wars Suite
Massenet – Meditation from Thais
Violin Soloist Allison Kim – Laureate 2016
Tchaikovsky – 1812 Overture
This free outdoor concert and seating is first come, first serve. Audience members are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for comfort.
The Nanaimo Summertime Blues Festival is coming up August 26th to 28th at Maffeo Sutton Park on the waterfront, with special performances at The Queens downtown. I met Gerold Haukenfrers, president of the Nanaimo Blues Society, and musician Lazy Mike on my last trip to Vancouver Island’s blues capital.
I made Lazy Mike work pretty hard when he gave me a crash course in playing the harmonica. I met up with him at The Queens, a legendary Vancouver Island venue with a hardwood dance floor and walls, that if they could talk, would sing the blues.
I was there for a mouth harp lesson, and to learn about the Nanaimo Summertime Blues Festival.
“It’s the highlight of my year,” Lazy Mike told me between note bends. He’s been playing the festival for years and will be there again this year. “You try to get into as many festivals as you can but this is definitely a highlight.”
The Nanaimo Summertime Blues Festival is the ultimate mash-up, with the moody, soulful ambiance of The Queens to the spectacular open-air, seaside venue at Maffeo Sutton Park on Nanaimo’s waterfront… Read my full article on FestivalSeekers.com »
From Port Alberni to the Bayou, the mix of talent that comes to Nanaimo for that one weekend of music is staggering. Follow Tourism Nanaimo for the latest visitor info, along with the Nanaimo Blues Festival for the full schedule of events.
Planning a trip to Nanaimo? I have a handy guide for what you can eat, see, and do while you’re in town.
World famous SuperChefs are on their way to Surrey! The New York show will be at Central City on Friday and Saturday offering an unforgettable experience for local children. The SuperChefs and Central City are partnering to offer kids an unforgettable opportunity to discover how much fun they can have in the kitchen while learning about food preparation and safety and developing life-long kitchen skills.
SuperChefs at Central City
Where: Central City (10153 King George Blvd, Surrey) When: Friday, July 29 & Saturday, July 30, 2016 from 11:00am to 5:00pm Participation: There are no tickets required, however space is limited and participation will be on a first come first served basis. Recommended ages for participants are between 8 and 12 years old. RSVP to the Facebook event here.
Under the direction of world-class professional chefs and educators, students learn in an enriched setting focused upon the joy of cooking while engaging in a program featuring team-building, athletic and artistic pursuits.
The SuperChefs will teach children how to prepare crepes, dim sum and New York City chef approved Italian noodles. Each mini-chef participant will leave with a bamboo steamer, so they can bring their newfound Asian cuisine cooking skills into their own homes.
Participants will also have the opportunity to enter into a social media contest for a chance to win a trip to New York City to experience SuperChefs in the Big Apple. Central City will be donating $1 from every entry that uses #CentralCitySuperChefs to SuperChefs (up to $2,000).
Win a $100 Gift Card
Thanks to Central City and SuperChefs, I have a $100 shopping gift card for Central City to give away. Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win a $100 @CentralCity gift card from @Miss604 + See @Super_chefs this weekend http://bit.ly/2ar6bt0
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, August 1, 2016. Follow the SuperChefs on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
The BC Sports Hall of Fame has a special deal for those who play Pokemon Go this BC Day. They’ll be open on during the holiday, 10:00am to 5:00pm with lures, tours, and much more for players and non-players alike.
BC Day at the BC Sports Hall of Fame
Enter the BC Sports Hall of Fame through Gate A at BC Place on Monday, August 1st. If you play Pokemon Go, show your Pokedex for 50% off (regular price $15) admission. Lures will be activated throughout the day and guests will also have the chance to win iTunes gift cards to buy Pokecoins.
Check out the BC Sports Hall of Fame’s museum and exhibits, and everyone is invited on a tour of BC Place at 11:00am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm. If you are a Pokemon Go player, take a special tour that includes PokeStops at 10:00am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, and 4:00pm on BC Day.
Follow the BC Sports Hall of Fame on Facebook and Twitter to find out more about this special BC Day promotion, their exhibitions, tours, and events.
Watch the Perseids meteor shower, the annual show of shooting stars that is one of the most popular celestial events in the world, with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada on August 13th in Aldergrove. You can bring the family to this viewing event, enjoy activities and refreshments, and even camp out for the night!
Watch the Perseids Meteor Shower
Where:Aldergrove Regional Park When: Saturday, August 13, 2016 from 8:00pm to 11:00pm Admission: All ages. Drop-in, $2 per person.
Join astronomers with telescopes as they search the night sky for the Perseids meteor shower. Enjoy lantern-lit trails, blacklight skits, games, crafts, storytelling and other entertainment. Camp overnight to extend your star gazing experience. Aldergrove Elks Lodge #66 concession available for hot drinks, food and Sunday morning breakfast, CASH ONLY. Meet at Aldergrove Bowl entrance at 501 Lefeuvre Rd, Abbotsford.
Camping setup is from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Full camping details are available online.
“The Perseids meteor shower happens every August. The Earth plows into debris left behind from Comet Swift-Tuttle, which last passed close to Earth in 1992… While the comet poses no threat to the planet for the foreseeable future, it is a very large object. Its nucleus of 6 miles (9.7 kilometers) in diameter is about the same size as the one that crashed into Earth about 66 million years ago and killed the dinosaurs.” [Space]
From Port Alberni to the Bayou, the mix of talent that comes to Nanaimo for that one weekend of music is staggering. Follow 
